CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Electoral Registration

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the percentage of electoral registration rate for each local authority in the UK is in descending order; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The Information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Chris Ruane, dated 11 November 2005
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the percentage electoral registration rate in each Local Authority area. (26409)
	The Office for National Statistics is not able to calculate percentage electoral registration rates: the resident population aged 18 and over is not the same as the number of people eligible to vote. However, the Office for National Statistics does on occasion publish comparisons of the resident population of voting age (aged 18 and over) and the number of people who are registered to vote. These comparisons provide the closest available approximations to the information you requested.
	The tables, which will be placed in the House of Commons Library, give comparisons between the number of registered electors and the estimated mid-2004 population for local authorities in the UK. Table 1 shows a comparison against parliamentary electorate and Table 2 against local/European electorate. Please note Table 1 refers to Great Britain only as Northern Ireland are unable to provide Parliamentary electorates for local authority areas. In order to give an estimate of the number of electors at the mid-year point, 30 June 2003, a weighted average is taken of the 1 December 2002 and 1 December 2003 electoral data.
	The local/European electorate gives a better comparison than parliamentary electorate to resident population as EU citizens are included and UK citizens resident abroad are excluded from the local/European electorate. However, a number of other difficulties remain when comparing these sources. For example not everyone who is usually resident is entitled to vote (foreign citizens from outside of the EU and Commonwealth, prisoners, etc. are not eligible) and people who have more than one address may register in more than one place. These factors may have a different impact from place to place.
	There is inevitably some double counting of the registered electorate (both parliamentary and local/European) as electoral registration officers vary in how quickly they remove people from the registers after they have moved away from an area or after they have died. This is the main reason some areas show apparent rates in excess of one hundred per cent.
	Any comparison of these data with figures for previous years should be made carefully as electoral legislation and other changes (such as EU expansion) can change the size of the electorate.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Sponsorship

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list guidelines she has issued on how her Department interacts with public bodies sponsored by her Department.

Tessa Jowell: My Department's relationship with each of its executive non-departmental public bodies is set out in a Management Statement and Financial Memorandum. That standing document is complemented by a funding agreement, for each Spending Review period, that explains how the Department and the sponsored body will work together and what will be delivered with public expenditure during the period.
	Apart from those key control documents, the Department has issued the following guidance bearing on how it interacts with its sponsored bodies:
	Serving on the Boards of DCMS Public Bodies (April 2005)—this sets out, for Board members, the respective roles of the Department and the body's Board and executive;
	Guidance on Key Appointments Stages for making a Public Appointment (June 2004)—this explains the division of responsibilities between Department and sponsored body during the process of making Board appointments.

Digital Switchover

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the progress towards digital switchover.

Tessa Jowell: Good progress continues to be made. The Government has confirmed the regional timetable for the switchover to digital television and announced support schemes to help the most vulnerable households to make the switch.
	Digital UK, an independent, not-for-profit company set up by the broadcasters, commercial multiplex operators and involving the supply chain digital switchover has been launched to co-ordinate the implementation of digital switchover and ensure that consumers have timely and accurate information about switchover.

Intellectual Property Forum

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the remit of the Intellectual Property Forum project announced by the Minister for Creative Industries on 16 June includes consideration of the extension of the term for sound copyright.

Alan Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
	The remit of the intellectual property forum project does not include consideration of the extension of the term for sound copyright. This will be considered separately, and how it will be done will be announced shortly.

Olympic Games

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment has been made of the impact of financing the Olympic Games on the amount of lottery money available for sports other than Olympic sports in the years to 2012.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 7 November 2005
	We have allowed for up to £1.5 billion to be raised from the lottery, some of which will be raised by new lottery games solely for this purpose. We expect the non-Olympic good causes to receive up to 5 per cent. less in income, as a result of sales diversion, over the eight-year period from 2005 to 2013. In addition, up to £410 million will be redirected from the proceeds of non-Olympic lottery games after 2009.

Olympic Games

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what costs will be met of those businesses relocating from the Marshgate Lane area to make way for Olympic development; and what criteria will be applied to determine reasonable costs.

Tessa Jowell: The businesses or parties with an interest in the land to be acquired under a confirmed Compulsory Purchase Order are compensated under the statutory Compensation Code.
	They receive the market value of their premises or other land interests. In addition they are entitled to a disturbance payment for either the business' relocation or extinguishment and the reasonable costs of their legal advisors and surveyors. A statutory loss payment can be made to commercial and residential owners/occupiers based on a percentage of market value of their property or interests.
	Each party with a compensateable interest is entitled to appoint a chartered surveyor to negotiate the compensation on their behalf with the acquiring authority.
	Disputes as to the level of compensation payable are referred to the Lands Tribunal.

Olympic Games

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of the operating profit from the 2012 Olympic Games will go to the British Paralympic Association.

Tessa Jowell: In accordance with the Host City Contract, any surplus from the 2012 Olympic Games will be divided between the National Olympic Committee (20 per cent.), the International Olympic Committee (20 per cent.), and will be used for the general benefit of sport in the host country as may be determined by the Organising Committee for the Games in consultation with the NOC (60 per cent.). This could include funding for disability or Paralympic sport.

Olympic Games

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans the Government has for public transport in London to accommodate the increased number of passengers during the London Olympics in 2012.

Tessa Jowell: The Olympic Park will be extremely well connected, and will be served by 10 railway lines which will collectively carry up to 240,000 passengers an hour into and out of the Olympic Park. During the games, one train every 15 seconds, or 240 trains an hour, will serve the Olympic Park.
	Beyond this, there will be significant investment in London's transport infrastructure in the lead up to 2012. This investment will bring improvements to London's roads, buses, rail and underground networks, giving added resilience and reliability to the system. Planned improvements include the new £5.2 billion Channel Tunnel Rail Link between St. Pancras and Stratford which will open in 2007 and will take passengers into the heart of the Olympic zone in under seven minutes, and over £1 billion a year until 2010 invested in the tube resulting in real improvements—including a 45 per cent. increase in Jubilee line capacity.
	Also it should be noted that the games will be held at a time when many Londoners take their summer holidays and use of public transport drops significantly as a result.

Olympic Lottery Games

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans her Department has to publicise the new Olympic lottery games.

Tessa Jowell: Camelot Group plc, the national lottery operator, is responsible for publicising the new Olympic lottery games in line with the terms of its licence. My Department supports this at appropriate opportunities.

Olympic Lottery Games

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions her Department has had with the national lottery regarding the new Olympic scratchcard.

Tessa Jowell: Licensing of specific national lottery games is the responsibility of the National Lottery Commission (NLC). The Department fully supported efforts by the NLC and Camelot Group plc, the national lottery operator, to make the necessary preparations for a prompt launch of the first Olympic lottery game, the Go for Gold scratchcard, as soon as possible after the IOC decision to award the 2012 Games to London.

TV Licences

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the likely cost of the television licence in the period covered by the next BBC Charter; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: In line with our commitment set out in the Green Paper: A strong BBC, Independent of Government, we are currently conducting a review of BBC funding to determine the future level of the licence fee. We will announce the outcome in due course.

CABINET OFFICE

Criminal Offences

Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the criminal offences created in legislation sponsored by his Department from May 1997 up to and including April 2005, broken down by Act.

Jim Murphy: No offences have been created by primary legislation introduced by the Cabinet Office.

SCOTLAND

Asylum Seekers

James McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Scottish First Minister about the use of dawn raids in asylum cases.

David Cairns: My right hon. Friend has regular discussions with the First Minister on a range of subjects, including issues which come under the responsibility of the Home Office.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Call Centres

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many call centres were run by his Department and its agencies in (a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) 2005–06 to date; and how many and what proportion of calls (i) were handled by an adviser, (ii) were received but abandoned and (iii) received an engaged tone.

Alan Johnson: The Department of Trade and Industry has one call centre (defined as an operation where 10 or more people work in a structured telephone environment) which was operational in 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005–2006.
	
		
			  How many calls handled How many calls received but abandoned How many callers received an engaged tone 
		
		
			 2003–04 227,023 27,447 (1)— 
			 2004–05 210,455 8,419 (1)— 
			 2005–06 165,276 7,665 (1)— 
		
	
	(1) Information not available.

Company Accounts

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on his proposals that a named individual should sign off a company's accounts.

Alun Michael: holding answer 10 November 2005
	This proposal reflects widespread agreement following consultation. The European Commission's draft Audit Directive (latest text 2004/0065(COD)) contains a provision requiring the signature of a named individual auditor on each audit report. The Department consulted on this directive in September 2004 and published the results of the consultation in February 2005 (available on the DTI website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-1370.html)
	Separately in early 2005, the Audit Quality Forum, which involves UK auditors, their clients and investors, recommended that the lead audit partner should sign his or her own name on each audit report. The March 2005 White Paper "Company Law Reform" contained proposals to this effect, and in July the Department published draft clauses for consultation.
	About a dozen consultees commented specifically on this proposal. Most supported it in principle and made suggestions for improvements to clarify the draft clauses. Some of these suggestions have been incorporated in the Company Law Reform Bill that was introduced to Parliament last week.

Departmental Skills Development Plan

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's Skills Development Plan.

Alan Johnson: Copies of the Skills Development Plan for Department of Trade and Industry will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Doha Trade Talks

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the prospects for progress in the Doha trade talks.

Ian Pearson: The Government is committed to achieving an ambitious, pro-development outcome at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong in December, which will allow conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda by the end of 2006. While meetings in London and Geneva this week have shown the distance that remains between several WTO Members, there remains a shared commitment to an ambitious result from the round. Hong Kong still has the potential to mark a significant step forward towards an early conclusion of the round.

ECJ Judgment

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on ECJ case C-127/05, 2005/C 143/26, with particular reference to (a) assessed liabilities ensuing for business and (b) the principle of proportionality in UK legislation.

Anne McGuire: I have been asked to reply.
	The European Commission has brought infraction proceedings against the United Kingdom for allegedly failing to fulfil its obligations under article 5(1) and (4) of Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work (the framework directive on health and safety) in its implementation of these provisions.
	The Government have lodged a defence of our implementation of the directive with the European Court of Justice as being in full compliance with our community law obligations.

Literacy and Numeracy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to promote uptake of the national tests in adult literacy and numeracy among employees of his Department.

Alan Johnson: The Skills for Life Programme and National Testing information is made available to employees that have identified need. We offer the chance to pursue the Skills for Life Numeracy and Literacy programme at an independent educational establishment such as 'LearnDirect' on day release for employees if they so choose.

Literacy and Numeracy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of new recruits to his Department do not have a level 2 qualification in English and mathematics.

Alan Johnson: Recruitment to my Department is competence based and there may not be a specific requirement for new recruits to hold a particular type of qualification. This type of data is not therefore collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Literacy and Numeracy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what methods of assessment of (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills are used as part of the recruitment process by employees of his Department.

Alan Johnson: Recruitment to my Department is competency based. Where literacy and numeracy skills are required, processes are in place to assess these skills through the application process. These include verification of formal qualifications, skills based questions and skills based tasks.

Mobile Communications

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will assess the contribution to the City of London's productivity of mobile communications; and if he will make a statement.

Alun Michael: I have no information for the City of London that would allow the assessment of the contribution mobile communications has made to its productivity. The mobile network operator, O2 commissioned a study from the Centre for Economic and Business Research in July 2004 to assess how the contribution of mobile phones to the UK economy was likely to change over the next 10 years. A final report on the regional contribution of mobile communications, provided figures broken down by region. For the South East it found that mobile communications contributes 3.23 per cent. of GDP, which is £1,573 per household per year. It also found that mobile communications accounts for 1.15 per cent. of all jobs in the South East.
	We have no plans to undertake a further assessment specific to the City of London.
	The mobile phone sector contributes to both the UK GDP and Government finances. According to research by the Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR), mobile contributed £22.9 billion to UK GDP in 2003, 2.3 per cent. of total GDP. Mobile network operator, O2 commissioned a study from CEBR in July 2004 that assessed how the contribution of mobile phones to the UK economy was likely to change over the next 10 years. The report shows how the mobile phone sector now contributes as much to GDP as the total oil and gas extraction industry.
	The research shows that the mobile sector is making a major contribution to national productivity both through sustaining a high level of productivity in the sector itself and through enabling higher productivity in the rest of the economy but no specific figures are available specifically for the City of London, although the City probably has the highest concentration of mobile telecommunications use in the country.

Work and Families Bill

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills concerning the Work and Families Bill.

Gerry Sutcliffe: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State regularly speaks to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on a variety of subjects. There have been no specific meetings to discuss the Work and Families Bill.

TREASURY

Birth Rates

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many births there were to women resident in the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority area at (a) individual maternity hospitals, (b) midwife-led units, (c) home and (d) other locations in each year since 2000.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Rosie Cooper, dated 11 November 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your request for the number of births to women resident in the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority at (a) individual maternity hospitals, (b) midwife-led units, (c) home and (d) other locations in each year since 2000. (26373)
	The table below relates to babies born in England and Wales to women usually resident in the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority area at the time of the birth. Figures are presented for categories (a) and (b) combined, (c) and (d). Information is not available centrally on which of these institutions are mid-wife led units, so these are not listed separately.
	Hospitals where more than 30 live births took place over the period 2000 to 2004 have been shown individually; the remaining ones have been aggregated in the 'Other hospitals' sub-total. Births in the 'Elsewhere' category are mainly those occurring on the way to hospital or at a private residence which is not that of the mother.
	
		Live births by place of occurrence for women resident inCheshire and Merseyside SHA area 2000–04
		
			  Year of occurrence 
			 Place of occurrence 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 (a) and (b) Maternity hospital/unit 
			 Liverpool Women's Hospital 5,894 5,793 5,808 6,111 7,674 
			 Arrowe Park Hospital 3,158 3,076 3,012 3,252 3,273 
			 Warrington Hospital 3,055 2,828 2,871 2,948 3,015 
			 Whiston Hospital 2,696 2,549 2,424 2,548 2,730 
			 Leighton Hospital 2,365 2,513 2,351 2,490 2,646 
			 Countess of Chester Hospital 2,371 2,371 2,349 2,388 2,495 
			 Macclesfield District General 1,422 1,367 1,387 1,431 1,525 
			 Ormskirk District General Hospital 167 177 184 733 1,328 
			 Fazakerley Hospital 2,565 2,252 2,228 2,189 322 
			 Wythenshawe Hospital 220 227 220 238 213 
			 Stepping Hill Hospital 152 137 114 106 137 
			 Christiana Hartley Maternity Hospital, Southport 909 894 876 420 134 
			 Billinge Hospital 260 249 235 249 132 
			 Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Wigan 0 0 0 0 83 
			 North Staffordshire Maternity Hospital 92 85 82 77 82 
			 St. Marys Hospital, Whitworth Park 48 58 56 60 68 
			 Ysbyty Maelor, Wrexham 26 31 38 43 26 
			 Hope Hospital 13 23 15 20 18 
			 Trafford General Hospital 16 25 16 19 14 
			 Other hospitals(2) 53 60 52 64 67 
			   
			 (c) At home 252 217 254 266 299 
			   
			 (d) Elsewhere 23 26 30 38 30 
			   
			 Total 25,734 24,932 24,572 25,652 26,281 
		
	
	(2) There were 115 hospitals/units in the 'Other' category where there was at least one birth in the period 2000 to 2004.

Duty Free Allowance

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) men and (b) women were (i) charged with and (ii) convicted of carrying goods above the duty free allowance in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

John Healey: HMRC records do not differentiate between criminal offences concerned with duty-free and duty-paid goods, nor do they distinguish between men and women. However, the consolidated figures for all prosecutions for smuggling of alcohol or tobacco for the years between 1993 and 2000 are:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1993–94 44 
			 1994–95 515 
			 1995–96 438 
			 1996–97 502 
			 1997–98 531 
			 1998–99 575 
			 1999–2000 645 
			 2000–01(3)(5508340004) 884 
			 2001–02(3)(5508340004) 431 
			 2002–03(4) 429 
			 2003–04(4) 484 
		
	
	(3) Figures relate to those sentenced for tobacco offence only.
	(4) Figures include those sentenced or convicted for fraudulent evasion as well as those guilty of smuggling.
	The figures for 2004–05 will be published later this year in the HMRC Annual Report.

Duty Free Allowance

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many items confiscated by customs officers as a result of the driver carrying goods above the duty free allowance are disposed of; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Vehicles seized by HM Revenue and Customs when the duty-free allowances are exceeded (or when alcohol and tobacco products are seized from travellers from elsewhere in the European Community) are either sold or, if in poor condition, scrapped in accordance with current environmental requirements. The proceeds from sale are passed to the Treasury. Confiscated alcohol is separated out from packaging and converted into fertilizer or animal feed. Tobacco is shredded and converted into fuel pellets.
	Wherever possible, all packaging is recycled.

EC Directives

Richard Spring: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with HM Revenue and Customs concerning policy changes for the repayment of VAT under the 8th and 13th EC directives;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the impact on (a) inward investment into the UK and (b) the UK hotel industry of changes to VAT collection under the 8th and 13th EC directives;
	(3)  if he will make a statement on the proposed policy changes for repayment under the 8th and 13th EC directives that will come into effect on 1 January 2006; and what assessment his Department has made of the likely effects of these changes on (a) UK companies and (b) non-EU companies.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have been receiving an increasing number of claims for repayment of VAT under the 8th and 13th EC VAT Directives which have not been supported by all the required documentation, including valid VAT invoices. HMRC have found that the previous controls for dealing with such claims are not sufficiently robust and are being abused. HMRC have therefore decided that they must tighten their procedures and have recently reminded businesses that claims must be supported by all the required documentation, and about what details a valid VAT invoice must contain. These rules apply equally to all businesses and are no different to the rules that apply domestically for businesses seeking to recover VAT incurred on their purchases.

Film Industry

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the Government's tax policy on film production in England.

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the Government's tax policy on film production; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government recognises the cultural and economic contribution that the film industry makes and the role that tax incentives play in encouraging the production of culturally British films. The Government launched a consultation, "Reform of Film Tax Incentives" in July 2005, which closed in October 2005. The responses that we received are being carefully considered.

Inland Revenue/Customs and Excise

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress with the merger of the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentlemen to my answer on 24 October 2005, Official Report, column 54W to the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning).

IT Projects

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the spare capacity in the Inland Revenue's computer systems.

Dawn Primarolo: As part of the normal course of their business both former Departments (Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise) together with their IT Partners conducted on-going reviews of their IT systems' capacity. These reviews have continued following the integration of the two Departments in April 2005 to create HMRC. HMRC is using the opportunity of the integration to conduct a widespread review of the capacity of the IT systems, to identify opportunities for rationalisation and efficiency savings, taking into account past trends and known future work.

IT Projects

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the IT projects costing over £1 million in use in his Department and introduced since 1997 have been scrutinised by the Public Accounts Committee; and if he will list them.

John Healey: None of the following IT projects costing over £1 million is believed to have been scrutinised by the PAC (Public Accounts Committee). The projects are:
	
		
			 Delivery (past and imminent)  Projects 
		
		
			 2001 Updating the Treasury's desktop to incorporate MS Windows and Office 2000 products (includes: Oasis Build 6 implementation) 
			 2001 Provision of IT services in support of HMT Business Continuity Plan (BCP) 
			 2002 Move and provision of new IT facilities in new HMT building, 1 Horse Guards Road 
			 2005 Integration of three government financial data systems to form a single data system in HMT. "COINS" 
			 2005 Enhancing document and records management in HM Treasury. "Jigsaw"

IT Projects

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many IT projects which cost over £1 million and were introduced since 1997 are in use in his Department.

John Healey: Five IT projects which cost over £1 million have been undertaken by the Treasury since 1997; three are IT systems software and two provide IT service infrastructure. All five are still in use.

Pensions

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the public sector pension deficit is if calculated using a discount rate based on index linked gilts; and what rate was used for the calculation.

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 36W on pensions, what discount rate was used to calculate the deficit; what the estimate of the deficit would be if a discount rate of 2.5 per cent. were used; and what assumptions underlay the calculation of the deficit with particular reference to life expectancy;
	(2)  pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 360W, on pensions, what the public sector pension deficit would be if the discount rate used was equivalent to that of a 25-year gilt.

Des Browne: The deficits and surpluses of funded statutory public service pension schemes such as the local government pension scheme, and those of funded pension schemes in the wider public sector, are not calculated centrally. Discount rates within the range specified by FRS 17 will be used for their individual accounts according to the circumstances of the scheme. To recalculate the liabilities of individual funds would involve disproportionate costs.
	Most public service pensions schemes are unfunded and funding deficits do not arise. However, information on the liabilities of unfunded schemes is collected and held centrally. The total liabilities of unfunded pension schemes as at 31 March 2004 are estimated to be £460 billion.
	This figure is based largely on pension scheme resource accounts for 2003–04, which used a discount rate of 3.5 per cent. real for that year. Assumptions used were consistent with those the latest actuarial analysis of each scheme's experience. Significant allowance was made for future improvement in mortality, drawing on national population projections and mortality studies undertaken by the actuarial profession.
	Government do not as a matter of course re-calculate liabilities published in audited accounts to show what they would have been had discounting assumptions been different from those that were in fact used. However, for the purposes of this question, based on the information held on the liabilities of unfunded public service schemes, the Government Actuary's Department have estimated:
	(a) Using a discount rate of 2.5 per cent. per annum net of price inflation, the total liabilities of unfunded schemes would have been around £560 billion as at 31 March 2004.
	(b) Using a discount rate of 1.9 per cent. per annum net of price inflation, which was the market yield on the FTSE index of longer-dated index linked gilts as at 31 March 2004, the total liabilities of unfunded public service schemes would have been around £630 billion as at 31 March 2004.
	(c) Using a discount rate of 1.7 per cent. per annum net of price inflation, the yield published by the Debt Management Office for the index-linked gilt in issue on 31 March 2004 with duration to redemption closest to 25 years, the total liabilities of unfunded schemes would have been around £650 billion as at 31 March 2004.
	The discount rate used to express the net present value of public service pension liabilities does not affect future government cash expenditure on pension payments to former public servants and their dependants.
	Projections of cash expenditure on unfunded public service pensions as a proportion of GDP are published alongside the pre-Budget report in the Long-term Public Finance Report as part of Government strategy to monitor the long-term sustainability of public expenditure.

PFI Contracts

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list private finance initiative (PFI) contracts which were originally off-balance sheet, but which the Government has taken on-balance sheet at a later date; and how much new public debt each contract represents.

John Healey: The specific balance sheet treatment of private finance initiative contracts is not determined by the Government, but through the application of established independent accounting standards by the respective independent audit bodies for the public authority—the National Audit Office, the Audit Commission or the audit bodies of the devolved administrations. The balance sheet treatment of private finance initiative contracts, including any changes, is reflected in the audited accounts of the procuring authority.

Public Service Pensions

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the projected savings over the next 50 years from (a) the December 2004 proposed reforms of public service pensions and (b) the revised proposals for public service pensions announced on 18 October.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Yeovil on 25 October 2005, Official Report, columns 313–14W.

Shellfishing (Morecambe Bay)

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the tax revenue was from shellfishing in Morecambe Bay in each year since 2000–01.

Dawn Primarolo: Statistical information on tax revenue at this level of detail is not available.

Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which specialist teams working on complicated tax credit cases at the Tax Credit Office, were referred to in correspondence of 4 October between the Tax Credit Office and the hon. Member for Birkenhead regarding the tax credits of his constituent of Corporation Road, Birkenhead; and what the size of each is.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 24 October 2005
	The specialist team referred to in the Tax Credit Office's letter to the right hon. Gentleman is a technical advice team. Team members provide technical advice and support to TCO staff. The team consists of around 12 full-time equivalent staff.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many full-time equivalent staff were employed by the Valuation Office Agency in each year since 1997; and what the estimated established staff for (a) 2005–06 and (b) 2006–07 is.

Dawn Primarolo: The numbers of full-time equivalent staff, employed by the Valuation Office Agency, in each year since 1997, are shown in the table. Staff numbers rose to a peak of 5,416 in August 2005 to support the council tax revaluation. The estimate of established staff for (a) 2005 to 2006 is 4,800 and although the final figure is yet to be determined for (b) 2006 to 2007 it is expected to be approximately 4,300.
	
		
			  Number of staff 
		
		
			 1996–97 4,563 
			 1997–98 4,346 
			 1998–99 4,063 
			 1999–2000 4,016 
			 2000–01 3,948 
			 2001–02 3,814 
			 2002–03 3,843 
			 2003–04 4,436 
			 2004–05 4,955

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Valuation Office Agency has spent in total on its computer assisted mass appraisal system.

Dawn Primarolo: Approximately £10 million has been spent on procuring and developing the automated valuation model, which is a key component of a computer assisted mass appraisal (CAMA) system.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what powers (a) staff and (b) contractors of the Valuation Office Agency have to forcibly inspect a property for a council tax valuation in circumstances where the resident refuses entry to the (i) inside of the premises and (ii) land surrounding the property.

Dawn Primarolo: None.

Vehicle Excise Duty

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost of the vehicle excise duty was in each year since 1976.

John Healey: DVLA publish a leaflet (V149) each year detailing current vehicle excise duty rates. I have arranged for copies of these leaflets going back to 1976 to be placed in the Library of the House.

TRANSPORT

A Road Improvements

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on improvements to A roads in the UK since 1997; and if he will list the transport budgets for each region for 2005–06.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department does not retain records of how much the Highways Agency or local authorities have spent specifically on 'A' roads in the UK since 1992.
	Our allocations for local transport capital investment for 2005–06 to regions (excluding London) are set out in the following table. This covers expenditure on local authority major transport schemes, integrated transport block and local road capital maintenance funding.
	
		2005–06: Local authority -- £ million
		
			 Region Major schemes(5) Integrated transport block allocation(6) Local road capital maintenance 
		
		
			 Eastern 33,999 64,950 91,119 
			 South West 32,315 57,815 107,685 
			 East Midlands 18,102 47,100 65,178 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 49,921 79,635 76,588 
			 West Midlands 62,271 72,600 82,105 
			 North West 26,653 112,848 88,144 
			 North East 27,989 33,400 44,170 
			 South East 51,661 84,580 105,008 
		
	
	(5) Schemes costing more than £5 million which have been fully approved for funding.
	(6) Improvement schemes costing less than £5 million.

A21 Upgrade

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to consult people in East Sussex affected by the proposed A21 upgrade.

Stephen Ladyman: Public consultation on the proposed upgrade of the A21 from Pembury to Hastings was carried out in 2002–03. The consultation included specific proposals for the Flimwell to Robertsbridge section. The Highways Agency and East Sussex county council held further consultation during February/March 2004 for the A21 Baldslow Link at Hastings, which included proposals for the Bexhill to Hastings Link Road. There are no immediate plans to carry out public consultation on specific proposals for the section between Robertsbridge and Baldslow.

Air Links

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are to improve air links in the South West of England.

Karen Buck: The Air Transport White Paper supports the growth of regional airports to serve local and regional demand, and includes a range of measures designed to facilitate their development.
	Airports throughout the South West are engaging with airlines with a view to building on the significant increase in scheduled services from the region that has taken place in recent years.

Banned Aircraft

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what types of aircraft used by civilian airlines are banned from UK airspace.

Karen Buck: There are no aircraft types currently banned from UK airspace.
	Any airline from outside the EU, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland which wishes to pick up or put down passengers or cargo in the UK requires a permit from the Secretary of State for Transport. It is a condition of the permit that the airline's aircraft should be operated in accordance with international safety standards. Any individual aircraft that does not meet those standards would be refused a permit.
	In addition, it is a condition of the permit that aircraft meet the environmental standards in Annex 16 to the Chicago Convention. Aircraft unable to meet the current ICAO noise certification requirements (Chapter 3 of Annex 16, Volume 1 or better) are not permitted unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Channel Tunnel

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he is satisfied that the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority has a sufficient number of qualified safety experts among its managerial staff;
	(2)  how many safety experts were employed by the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority in (a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003 and (d) 2004.

Derek Twigg: The Channel Tunnel Safety Authority (CTSA) is not a body that directly employs safety experts. It has, however, access to safety experts employed by the Health and Safety Executive and the Kent Fire and Rescue Service, some of whom spend a significant proportion of their time on CTSA work, and from similar organisations in France.
	It also has access to safety expertise in other British and French organisations. The Channel Tunnel Safety Authority's Annual Report indicates the bodies that have provided advice during the year covered by the report.
	The time spent by safety experts on CTSA work in any year will depend on the needs of the Authority for advice and assistance in that year. I am satisfied that the CTSA has adequate access to qualified safety experts.

Channel Tunnel

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the results were of bi-national exercises to test emergency procedures held on (a) 15 April 2004 at Folkestone Fire Station (UK COMEX), (b) 30 June 2004 on the French side of service tunnel (VALEX) and (c) 19 September 2004 in the UK led annual exercise BINAT 15; and if he will place reports of these results in the Library.

Derek Twigg: The results of these exercises, which are to test emergency procedures, are summarised in the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority Annual Report 2004–05 at paragraph 53. Given that the full reports, which are agreed between the French and British emergency response organisations and Eurotunnel, detail the preparedness of the organisations concerned in respect of emergency situations including those arising from terrorist attack, it is not proposed to make them public.

Channel Tunnel

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of whether the reliability rate of the crossover doors in the channel tunnel is at levels deemed reasonable by the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the instances of the monthly target failure rate of 5 per cent. of crossover doors in the channel tunnel being exceeded.

Derek Twigg: In the year from 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005, the reliability rates of the crossover doors have been better than the figure regarded as acceptable by the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority (a 5 per cent. probability that the doors would fail when required to operate). The failure rates have been, on average, lower than this, at 3.7 per cent. on the UK side and 4.7 per cent. on the French side of the tunnel. A programme of modification of the doors, which is under way, is leading to a further improvement in the situation.
	The Channel Tunnel Safety Authority's Annual Report for 2004–05 notes that there have been occasions when the target monthly failure rate has been exceeded, but points out the limited number of operations and the fact that overall, the failure rate is lower than the target and is decreasing.

Crossrail (Train Running Times)

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the running times of trains from Twyford, Maidenhead and Slough to Paddington before and after the Crossrail construction.

Derek Twigg: The following estimated table describes journey times to Paddington. Many passengers who travel beyond Paddington will have shorter overall journey times as Crossrail will run directly to central London interchange stations avoiding the need for some people to change trains at all, and providing others with alternative interchange opportunities.
	
		
			  Twyford Maidenhead Slough 
		
		
			 Current services   
			 Average journey time (mins) 47 38 26.5 
			 Services after Crossrail opens   
			 Crossrail normal times (mins) (7)— 40 31 
			 Residual slow line services average (mins) (8)40 (8)32 (8)24 
		
	
	(7) Crossrail does not run as far as Twyford
	(8) The residual services are planned to be complementary to Crossrail services and also run on the slow lines. The figures exclude services that, as at present, operate on the fast lines. A comparison including fast line services cannot be made at this stage not least because of the current franchise-letting process for the Great Western line.

Cycling

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the effectiveness of the cycling demonstration towns.

Derek Twigg: The Department is working closely with our expert advisory body, Cycling England, to agree a robust monitoring framework in each of the six cycling demonstration towns.
	In partnership with Department of Health, we are investigating how we can fully measure the resulting health benefits of increasing cycling levels in these towns.
	A finalised monitoring programme will be agreed with each cycling town by 31 March 2006.

Cycling

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions have taken place with cyclists on the making of public transport accessible to those using bicycles.

Derek Twigg: My predecessor, the hon. Member for Staffordshire Moorlands (Charlotte Atkins) met with the CTC (Cyclist Touring Club) in December 2004 and discussed a range of cycling issues including bike and rail; and I was delighted to present the Association of Train Operating Companies Rail Cycle Awards on 8 November which recognises integrated bike and rail innovations.
	In August 2004 the Department and the Countryside Agency published "Bike and Rail: a good practice guide" highlighting good practice and encouraging a partnership approach between train operators, local authorities and cycle groups. The Strategic Rail Authority published their Cycling Policy in November last year. Copies of both these publications have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Foreign Lorries (Road Wear)

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates his Department has made of the cost of road wear by foreign lorries operating in England; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Darling: The Department has not made an estimate of this cost in recent years.

Light Rail Schemes

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the usage figures have been for each light rail scheme currently in operation in each year since they commenced operation.

Alistair Darling: The following tables show the figures requested.
	
		Passenger journeys per year for modern light rail systems in England -- Million
		
			 System 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 
		
		
			 Tyne and Wear Metro 59.1 46.4 44.9 45.4 45.5 43.6 40.6 38.9 38.3 37.0 
			 Docklands Light Rail — — — 6.6 8.5 8.0 7.9 6.9 8.3 11.3 
			 Manchester Metrolink — — — — — — — 8.1 11.3 12.3 
			 Sheffield Supertram — — — — — — — — — 2.2 
			 West Midlands Metro — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Croydon Tramlink — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Nottingham Tram — — — — — — — — — — 
		
	
	
		Million
		
			 System 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Tyne and Wear Metro 35.9 35.4 35.0 33.8 32.7 32.5 33.4 36.6 37.9 36.8 
			 Docklands Light Rail 14.5 16.7 21.0 27.6 31.3 38.4 41.3 45.7 48.5 50.1 
			 Manchester Metrolink 12.6 13.4 13.8 13.2 14.2 17.2 18.2 18.8 18.9 19.7 
			 Sheffield Supertram 5.3 7.8 9.2 10.4 10.9 11.1 11.4 11.5 12.3 12.8 
			 West Midlands Metro — — — — 4.8 5.4 4.8 4.9 5.1 5.0 
			 Croydon Tramlink — — — — — 15.0 18.2 18.7 19.8 22.0 
			 Nottingham Tram — — — — — — — — 0.4 8.5

M3 (Junctions 6 and 7)

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the need to increase vehicle capacity of junctions 6 and 7 of the M3.

Stephen Ladyman: As part of their ongoing Local Plan Review process, Basingstoke and Deane borough council assessed the capacity of the M3 in the Basingstoke area, including junctions 6 and 7. This assessment was discussed with Hampshire county council and the Highways Agency. Agreement was reached in principle on the need to accommodate traffic resulting from the Local Plan proposals by a combination of management measures and capacity increases.
	The Highways Agency will review the situation when the outcome of the Local Plan Review becomes clearer.

Quiet Tyres

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when directive 2001/43/EC on quiet tyres will be transposed into UK law.

Stephen Ladyman: The directive was transposed into UK law by Statutory Instrument 2002 No. 1835, made on 12 July 2002.

Railways

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average percentage change in annual rail fares over the previous year was in each year between 1997 and 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Regulated fares were limited to an average annual increase equal to inflation until 1998, 1 per cent. less than inflation from 1999 until 2003, and by 1 per cent. above inflation from 2004 onwards. Information on both regulated and unregulated fares levels is collated by the Office of Rail Regulation and published in their publication "National Rail Trends".

Railways

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) Network Rail and (b) the British Transport Police in preventing trespassing onto railway lines (i) in England and (ii) in the Kettering constituency; and what further steps are planned.

Derek Twigg: No assessments have been made by the Secretary of State. The primary responsibility for preventing trespass on the national rail network lies with Network Rail, who work closely with the British Transport Police, others in the rail industry and the wider community.
	Network Rail will write directly to my hon. Friend about work to prevent trespassing on the network in Kettering.

Railways

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what elements of the European Railway Safety Directive (2004/49/EC) remain to be implemented by the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority.

Derek Twigg: The requirements of the European Railway Safety Directive (2004/49/EC) on the independent investigation of accidents and incidents, including their application to the UK section of the Channel Tunnel, have been transposed in the UK by The Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) Regulations 2005.
	The remaining elements of the Directive cover the development and management of safety, safety certification of railway undertakings and safety authorisation of infrastructure managers, and the appointment and functions of Safety Authorities. These are being transposed to the Channel Tunnel by a binational Regulation of the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission (which will be given effect in the UK by Statutory Instrument). The Intergovernmental Commission aims to complete its transposition by the Directive's deadline of 30 April 2006.

Railways

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the implications for safety of over-crowding on trains along (a) the Hastings to London Victoria and (b) Brighton to London Victoria lines; and what steps he plans to take to reduce the impact of overcrowding on train services;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the volume of passengers using peak time train services along the (a) Brighton to London Victoria and (b) Hastings to London Victoria line in 2004–05; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the over-crowding on trains along (a) the Hastings to London Victoria and (b) Brighton to London Victoria lines; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 7 November 2005
	Crowding on all London passenger services, including between Hastings-London Victoria and Brighton-London Victoria are measured against Passengers in Excess of Capacity Rules (PIXC) rules. This is against the number of seats on longer-distance services and against total capacity (seats plus, standing) for services where the first stop that passengers alight (or last stop where passengers board) is not more than 20 minutes from the terminal station. This allows for the scheduled stops within the 20 minute threshold at Clapham Junction and East Croydon in both directions.
	The latest available count data (2004) show that all morning and evening peak Brighton to Victoria and Hastings to Victoria services are within their official passenger capacities, except for the 1632 Victoria to Brighton service. The Train Operating Company has allocated less carriages to the 1632 Victoria to Brighton train in order to provide longer trains to meet the greater passenger demand in the high peak period after 1700. However, an alternative service between Victoria and Brighton is scheduled shortly after this service at 1636, and this does provide spare capacity.
	Ultimately the responsibility for the day-to-day safety and welfare of passengers using the railway rests with the Train Operating Companies. Focus is being given to improve timetabling, infrastructure maintenance and renewals and other factors that can impact on reliable delivery of train services, which will in turn impact on crowding levels.

Railways

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what procedures are in place to assess the level of investment required in the infrastructure of the railways to ensure its safe operation against the commercial requirements of those operating the franchises.

Derek Twigg: Under the Health and Safety at Work Act etc 1974 it is for Network Rail and the train operators to ensure that they operate their undertakings to reduce risks "so far as is reasonably practicable" and to ensure that safety benefits are taken into account in their investment plans. The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for ensuring that train operators comply with appropriate health and safety law.

Road Accidents

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effect on the number of additional deaths and serious injuries on roads each year of turning back the clocks in October.

Stephen Ladyman: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 9 November 2005, Official Report, column 514W.

Road Resurfacing

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the use of stone mastic asphalt materials for road resurfacing; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The use of stone mastic asphalt materials (SMA) for road resurfacing was assessed by the Highways Agency in the 1990s. As a result of concern regarding the loss of surface texture required for high-speed skid resistance, its use was prohibited as a surfacing on trunk roads including motorways in England. Proprietary materials based on SMA, known as 'thin surfacings', have been developed to address the surface texture concern and these are now widely used on the trunk road and motorway network. The Department, on behalf of the UK Roads Board has commissioned best practice guidance for local authorities on how and where thin surfacings and SMA can be applied. The results of this research will be available early next year.

Train and Bus Services

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average frequency of (a) train and (b) bus services in England was in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Karen Buck: Data are not available in the form requested.
	The National Travel Survey asks respondents about the frequency of services from their nearest railway station and their nearest bus stop. Results for households in England in 2004 are given in the table.
	
		Frequency of train and bus services from nearest railway station or bus stop—England, 2004
		
			  Percentage of households 
		
		
			 Frequency of train service  
			 Frequent services(9) throughout the day 88 
			 Frequent services(9) only during rush hours 5 
			 Less frequent service 7 
			   
			 Frequency of bus service  
			 At least one every quarter of an hour 37 
			 At least one ever half hour (but less than one every quarter of an hour) 37 
			 At least one an hour (but less than one every half hour) 19 
			 At least one a day (but less than one an hour) 6 
			 Less than one a day 1 
		
	
	(9) Frequent services are defined as at least one train per hour.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Asbestos Contractors

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many licensed asbestos contractors have had their licences revoked in each year since 2000.

Anne McGuire: Since 2000 one licensed asbestos contractor has had their licence revoked. The revocation took place in February 2005.
	Although only one licence has been revoked since 2000, revocation proceedings have been initiated on several occasions. The revocation process was not concluded previously as the licences expired before the revocation decision was reached and the applicants either did not reapply for a licence or their licence renewal application was refused.

Asbestos Contractors

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many field inspectors employed by the Health and Safety Executive are (a) trained, (b) equipped and (c) authorised to inspect on-site enclosures during asbestos removal work.

Anne McGuire: As at 28 October 2005, 40 personnel employed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Health and Safety Laboratory (i.e. inspectors, specialists and scientists) are trained, equipped and authorised to inspect and enter live asbestos enclosures during asbestos removal work. Of these 40, 33 are general and specialist field inspectors, and seven are scientific personnel.
	The majority of asbestos work is inspected by operational inspectors in the Construction Division (CD) of HSE's Field Operations Directorate. Most inspections do not require enclosure entry as the work activity can be observed through viewing panels incorporated into the structure of the enclosure. The majority of CD's 124 operational inspectors have been trained to inspect asbestos removal work without entering enclosures. Of these 124, 18 are currently nominated, trained, equipped and authorised to enter enclosures, but only when necessary to secure compliance or collect evidence.

Asbestos Contractors

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many premises the Health and Safety Executive estimates will be covered by the requirements in the Management of Asbestos in Building Regulations.

Anne McGuire: Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 places duties on those responsible for maintenance and repair of non-domestic premises to manage the risk from any asbestos in those premises.
	The Health and Safety Executive estimates that 500,000 commercial, industrial and public buildings, plus the common areas of some 4 million rented residential premises, are likely to contain asbestos.

Asbestos Contractors

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many licensed asbestos contractors have had enforcement action taken against them for dry stripping in each year since 2000.

Anne McGuire: Due to the way in which this information is stored, it is not possible to identify easily the enforcement action for uncontrolled dry stripping taken against licensed asbestos contractors. The following table indicates the level of enforcement activity since 2000 against licensed contractors and the number of occasions uncontrolled dry stripping was identified as a matter of concern by inspectors. The Health and Safety Executive's policy is to consider enforcement action when uncontrolled dry stripping is encountered. As such, either prohibition notices, or consideration of prosecution, would have occurred in the majority of these occasions.
	
		
			  Notices Prosecutions Uncontrolled dry stripping incidents 
		
		
			 2004–05 40 5 8 
			 2003–04 57 6 5 
			 2002–03 63 6 9 
			 2001–02 40 7 2 
			 2000–01 40 5 10

Asbestos Contractors

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps the Health and Safety Executive has taken to ensure that client organisations understand the requirement to wet strip asbestos-containing materials.

Anne McGuire: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has provided guidance to client organisations on the need for wet stripping of asbestos-containing materials in its 2002 publication 'A comprehensive guide to Managing Asbestos in premises' (HSG 227)—ISBN 0717623815, which is available in the Library.
	This guidance, together with other advice for clients, is promoted through HSE's on-going asbestos campaign.

Asbestos Contractors

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps the Health and Safety Executive has taken to ensure that licensed asbestos contractors (a) understand and (b) comply with the requirement to wet strip asbestos-containing materials.

Anne McGuire: Before contractors are granted a licence to work with asbestos, they must demonstrate to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that they have sound knowledge of the relevant legislation and related guidance and that they have the necessary competence to do the work safely, so that the health of their employees, or others who may be affected by the work, is not endangered. The applicant's knowledge includes their having an understanding of and the competence to apply controlled asbestos removal techniques.
	Having granted a licence, HSE expects the licence holder to comply with the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 and the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 as amended. In order to monitor the performance of licence holders, inspectors carry out a programme of site visits. If, during these visits, inspectors encounter work being carried out without using proper controls, such as wet injection, then they will take appropriate action to achieve compliance.

Benefit Expenditure

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measure of council tax inflation the Department uses for its long-term projections of benefit expenditure.

James Plaskitt: HM Treasury's long-term assumption for council tax inflation is that it is rising in line with average earnings.

Benefit Fraud

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to measure fraud and error in those benefits that are not regularly monitored.

James Plaskitt: Measurement of fraud and error in benefits is complex and expensive, therefore the Department concentrates on those benefits with the highest level of risk. We carry out continuous measurement of loss through fraud and error in jobseeker's allowance, income support, pension credit and housing benefit and we conduct reviews of other benefits. For example a national benefit review of disability living allowance was conducted in 2004 and the results published in July 2005 as "Fraud, Error and other Incorrectness in disability living allowance", which is available in the Library.
	We are committed to continuing these reviews, and over the next few years we will be carrying out a series on other benefits which have a high level of expenditure and potential risk of loss. We envisage that this will enable us to publish a more accurate figure for loss through fraud and error.

Benefit Fraud

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many inspectors the Department has employed for the investigation of benefit fraud in each of the last 10 years.

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many fraud investigators are in post; and what the equivalent figures were in the previous two years.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the table.
	
		DWP fraud investigators
		
			  Full time equivalents 
		
		
			 June 2004 1,900.1 
			 June 2005 1,870.1 
		
	
	Note:
	Information is not available in the above format prior to 2004.
	Source:
	Fraud Business Report (latest figure available from quarter ending June 2005).

Benefit Receipt (Kingston and Surbiton)

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the Kingston and Surbiton constituency have (a) applied for and (b) received the disability living allowance in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: The administration of disability living allowance and attendance allowance is a matter for the chief executive of the Disability and Carers Service, Mr. Terry Moran. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Terry Moran to Mr. Edward Davey, dated 11 November 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me, as Chief Executive of the Disability and Carers Service, to reply to your question concerning how many people in the Kingston and Surbiton constituency have (a) applied for and (b) received the disability living allowance in each year since 1997.
	The information requested at part (a) of your question is unavailable. This information is not retained at any geographical level other than for Great Britain and therefore cannot be produced.
	The information requested at part (b) of your question is as follows:
	
		Disability living allowance for Kingston and Surbiton parliamentary constituency as at May in each year from1997 to 2005 -- Thousand
		
			  Cases in Kingston and Surbiton parliamentary constituency 
		
		
			 2005 2.4 
			 2004 2.2 
			 2003 2.1 
			 2002 2.0 
			 2001 1.6 
			 2000 1.6 
			 1999 1.5 
			 1998 1.7 
			 1997 1.5 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Totals show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and excludes people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital or abroad for prolonged periods.
	2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory.
	3. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred and are expressed in thousands.
	4. "-" Nil or negligible.
	5. "." Not applicable.
	6. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study for totals and 5 per cent. samples for detail/long time series.
	I hope this is helpful.

Benefits

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the quarterly off-flows from (a) incapacity benefit and (b) severe disability allowance for each quarter from February 2003 to the latest available date, broken down by (i) Jobcentre Plus district and (ii) reason for termination.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 3 November 2005
	The information has been placed in the Library.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many carbon monoxide poisoning incidents have occurred in public places in each of the last 10 years.

Anne McGuire: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has responsibility for the safe installation, maintenance and use of gas systems in domestic and commercial premises. It maintains statistics on gas-related carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning only in domestic premises. It also maintains statistics on work related poisonings reported to it, which may arise from exposure to substances including CO.
	However, HSE has no responsibility for other domestic use of fossil fuels, such as coal, wood or oil, which can also be sources of CO poisoning. It also has no responsibility for air quality in public places.

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions payments have been made under the authority of the Chief Executive or the Deputy Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency but without their personal written authorisation; how much these payments have amounted to; for what reasons they were made; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr Stephen Geraghty. He will write to the hon. Member separately.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty to Mr. David Laws
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on how many occasions payments have been made under the authority of the Chief Executive or the Deputy Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency but without their personal written authorisation; how much these payments have amounted to; for what reasons they were made.
	All payments made by officers of the Child Support Agency are made under the authority of the Chief Executive as the Accounting Officer for the Agency. There are delegated authority levels and controls in place throughout the Agency to support these arrangements. In certain exceptional circumstances, the personal written authorisation of the Chief Executive or his Deputy is required before payment of redress can be made.
	I hope you find this useful.

Child Support Agency

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many formal complaints his Department has received from West Lancashire about the Child Support Agency.

James Plaskitt: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Members for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (Michael Moore) and for Hornsey and Wood Green (Lynne Featherstone) on 25 October 2005, Official Report, column 279W.

Construction Industry

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps the Government are taking to ensure that health and safety measures are properly enforced in relation to agency workers in the construction industry; and who bears the responsibility of ensuring that health and safety laws are observed in cases where such workers are employed by composite companies rather than directly by the company carrying out the construction work.

Anne McGuire: The Government, through the Health and Safety Executive, enforces health and safety legislation through a combination of enforcement and advisory techniques such as site inspection and the publication of guidance. Health and safety legislation affords protection to both direct employees and those employed through agencies.
	A construction company employing agency workers is subject to the general duties contained in sections 2 and 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA). Section 2 HSWA places a general duty on all employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of their employees. Where a worker is not employed directly by the company carrying out work on site, section 3 HSWA imposes a duty on employers such as that company to ensure, in so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of those other than his employees, such as that worker. Responsibilities regarding the sharing of information about risks and their control between hirers, employment agencies and workers are clarified in the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
	Additionally, in construction, the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994 impose duties on principal contractors to manage and co-ordinate all construction activity whether undertaken by their employees, subcontractors, the self-employed or agency workers. The Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations) 1996 also imposes a duty to safeguard construction site health and safety on any person, whether they are the employer or not, who is in control of workers.

Correspondence

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to improve the Department's performance in replying to correspondence from members of the public;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to improve the Department's performance in replying to hon. Members' correspondence.

Anne McGuire: Every effort is made to handle all correspondence effectively and efficiently. All correspondence from hon. Members and Peers is handled in accordance with the principles set out in 'Handling Correspondence from Members of Parliament, Members of the House of Lords, MEPs and Members of Devolved Assemblies: Guidance for Departments'. The same principles apply when handling correspondence from members of the public.
	Information relating to the performance of departments in replying to Members/Peers correspondence is published on an annual basis. The report for 2004 was published on 6 April 2005, Official Report, columns. 137–40WS.

Departmental Consultation

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list formal consultations being sponsored by his Department and its agencies; and what the (a) commencement date and (b) deadline for responses is in each case.

Anne McGuire: Current formal consultations are listed as follows.
	
		
			  Title of consultation Commencement date Deadline for responses 
		
		
			 Pensions: disclosure of information consultation on draft regulations—the Occupational Pensions Schemes (Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2006 9 September 2005 2 December 2005 
			 British Coal Staff and Mineworkers' Pensions (The Occupational Pensions Schemes (Transfer values, Pension Credit Benefit and Pension Sharing Valuation) (Amendment) Regulations 2005) 13 October 2005 25 November 2005 
			 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Modification of Subsisting Rights) Regulations 2006 19 October 2005 16 December 2005 
			 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Exemption) Regulations 2006 26 October 2005 16 December 2005

Disability Living Allowance

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the Kettering constituency (a) applied for and (b) received the disability living allowance in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 28 October 2005
	The administration of disability living allowance and attendance allowance is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Disability and Carers Service, Mr Terry Moran. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Terry Moran to Mr. Philip Hollobone, dated 11 November 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me, as Chief Executive of the Disability and Carers Service, to reply to your question concerning how many people in the Kettering constituency have (a) applied for and (b) received the Disability Living Allowance in each year since 1997.
	The information requested at part (a) of your question is unavailable. This information is not retained at any geographical level other than for Great Britain and therefore cannot be produced.
	The information requested at part (b) of your question is as follows:
	
		Disability living allowance for Kettering Parliamentary Constituency as at May in each year from 1997 to 2005
		
			  Cases in Kettering Parliamentary Constituency 
		
		
			 May 2005 3.6 
			 May 2004 3.4 
			 May 2003 3.3 
			 May 2002 3.1 
			 May 2001 3.2 
			 May 2000 2.9 
			 May 1999 2.8 
			 May 1998 2.6 
			 May 1997 2.5 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Totals show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and excludes people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital or abroad for prolonged periods.
	2. Parliamentary Constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory.
	3. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred and are expressed in thousands.
	4. "-" Nil or Negligible.
	5. "." Not applicable.
	6. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study for totals and 5% samples for detail/long time series.

Disability Living Allowance

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people under the age of 60 years were receiving (a) the middle rate of the care component, (b) higher rate of the care component and (c) the higher rate of the mobility component of disability living allowance stopped receiving these benefits due to death in each month of the last five years.

Anne McGuire: Information is not available in the form requested. The information that is available is in the table.
	Disability living allowance: number of awards in Great Britain which included a higher rate care component, or a middle rate care component, or a higher rate mobility component in which payment was terminated by the death of recipients under 60 years of age at the time of their death in the 12 month periods ending on 31 May in each year from 2001 to 2005.
	
		
			  Number of awards (thousands) terminated by the death of recipients under 60 years of age 
			 Disability living allowance component 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Higher rate care and higher rate mobility 2.9 3.3 2.8 3.7 3.7 
			 Higher rate care and lower rate mobility (10)0.1 (10)0.1 (10)0.1 (10)0.1 (10)0.2 
			 Higher rate care only (10)0.2 (10)0.2 (10)0.1 (10)0.1 (10)0.2 
			 Middle rate care and higher rate mobility (10)0.5 (10)0.4 0.7 (10)0.5 (10)0.5 
			 Middle rate care and lower rate mobility (10)0.3 (10)0.1 (10)0.2 (10)0.3 (10)0.3 
			 Middle rate care only — — — — — 
			 Lower rate care and higher rate mobility (10)0.3 (10)0.2 (10)0.2 (10)0.3 (10)0.2 
			 Higher rate mobility only (10)0.3 (10)0.3 (10)0.2 (10)0.2 (10)0.3 
			 Total 4.7 4.7 4.4 5.3 5.4 
		
	
	'—'denotes nil or negligible.
	(10) Less than 500 and subject to a high degree of sampling variation.
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and expressed in thousands. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study for totals and 5 per cent. samples for detail/longtime series.

Document Terminology

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on the use of the word spouse in official documents; if he will encourage the use of the term spouse/partner; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The Department currently applies the word 'spouse' or 'partner' according to the existing eligibility criteria for the benefit in question. From 5 December 2005, the Civil Partnership Act comes into force and terminology used in documentation will be expanded where appropriate. The existing use of 'spouse' and 'partner' will continue, but the definition of partner will be expanded to include reference to 'civil partner'.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many meetings of the (a) EU Committee of senior labour inspectors, (b) EU Scientific Committee for Occupational Exposure Limits to chemical agents, (c) EU Confidentiality of Statistics Committee and (d) EU Committee on the harmonisation of the compilation of gross national product at market prices are planned for the UK presidency of the EU; who will be presiding over each meeting; what other UK representatives will be present; what provision is in place for representation of the devolved Governments; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The Senior Labour Inspectors Committee will be meeting once during the UK presidency of the European Union between 9 and 10 November 2005. A senior official from the European Commission's Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities will be presiding over the meeting. Senior operational officials from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will attend the meeting. Health and safety is a matter for central UK Government and is not a devolved responsibility.
	The European Commission's Scientific Committee for Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL) has held one meeting during the period 1 July to 31 December 2005, on 21 and 22 September. A second meeting, originally planned for December, has been postponed to late January 2006. The Chair of SCOEL is chosen from among the membership and does not reflect the presidency. The current chair is Professor Vito Foá, who is Italian. SCOEL members act as independent scientific experts, not as representatives of national Governments. HSE currently nominates two members to SCOEL on behalf of the UK Government. The current UK nominees are a senior toxicologist at the Medical Research Council Institute for Environment and Health, and the head of the Health and Safety Executive's Industrial Chemicals Unit. There is no provision for representation of devolved Governments on SCOEL.
	The Commission (EUROSTAT) presides over both the Committee on Statistical Confidentiality (CSC) and the Committee on the harmonisation of the compilation of gross national product (GNI). During the term of the UK presidency of the Council of the European Union the CSC plans to meet on 2 December 2005. The GNI met on 5–6 July 2005 and plans to meet again on 27 October 2005. Meetings will be attended by appropriate UK officials who will consult with Devolved Administrations as appropriate.

Howell Opinion

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact of the Howell Opinion in (a) the UK and (b) Scotland.

James Plaskitt: The Howell Opinion prevents local authorities prosecuting cases involving DWP administered benefits. Local authorities and this Department may conduct a joint investigation. Such cases would require an element of duplicated working within the local authority and the Department. Alternatively, if it is not possible to conduct a joint investigation there is a risk that the Department and the local authority might investigate or prosecute the same individual twice for a similar offence.
	We intend to introduce at the earliest opportunity, amendments to primary legislation to enable local authorities to investigate and prosecute national benefits alongside housing or council tax benefit.

Income Support

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of income support recipients receiving a disability premium have been on the benefit for (a) less than one year, (b) less than two years, (c) less than five years and (d) less than eight years.

James Plaskitt: The information is in the table.
	
		Income support claimants with a disability premium by duration: Great Britain, May 2005
		
			  Duration Income support claimants with a disability premium  Percentage 
		
		
			 All 1,115,700 100.0 
			 Up to 1 year 89,800 8.0 
			 1 year and up to 2 years 140,300 12.6 
			 2 years and up to 5 years 306,500 27.5 
			 5 years and up to 8 years 202,400 18.1 
			 8 years and over 376,600 33.8 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. Percentages are given to one decimal place.
	3. For comparison purposes, the 1997 figure excludes pensioners. Pensioners have not been able to claim income support since October 2003.
	4. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study(WPLS).

In-work Credit (Kettering)

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people in Kettering constituency have received the in-work credit;
	(2)  how many people in Kettering constituency have received the lone parent work search premium.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 27 October 2005
	The lone parent in work credit and work search premium are not available in Kettering.
	The in work credit is designed to help lone parents cope with the financial aspects of moving from welfare to work, and ensure they are better off in work. It is being piloted in 23 Jobcentre Plus districts and has been rolled out in four phases from April 2004 to October 2005.
	The areas covered are: Bradford; North London; South East London; Cardiff; Central London; Dudley and Sandwell; Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders; Lancashire West; Leeds; Leicestershire; Staffordshire; West London; Brent, Harrow and Hillingdon; City and East; Lambeth; Southwark and Wandsworth; South London; Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire; Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire; Essex; Hampshire; Kent; and Surrey and Sussex.
	The work search premium helps remove the disincentive for lone parents in the costs of looking for work. It is being piloted in eight Jobcentre Plus districts: Bradford, Cardiff and Vale, Dudley and Sandwell, Edinburgh, Lancashire West, Leicestershire, South East London, and West London.
	An interim evaluation of the pilots is being conducted and we expect to publish a report in autumn 2006.

Jobcentre Plus (Staffordshire)

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what additional facilities are proposed to assist those using the Job Centre in Burslem.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie to Ms Joan Walley, dated 11 November 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about what additional facilities are proposed to assist those currently using the Jobcentre in Burslem. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	As you will be aware, Burslem Jobcentre is scheduled to close in March 2007. Those customers currently claiming jobseeker's allowance through Burslem Jobcentre will have access to services provided by the new, purpose-built premises, planned for Hanley, only three miles away from the current Burslem Jobcentre location. Burslem customers claiming Incapacity Benefit and Income Support already use the Hanley site for all their dealings with Jobcentre Plus.
	A feasibility study of alternative local locations options has been undertaken and negotiations are currently under way with the local authority over the introduction of telephone facilities in Burslem library to allow our customers to access our services direct, free of charge.
	Consideration is also being given to the possibility of routing the Staffordshire JobsBus through Burslem. The JobsBus is a mobile unit offering customers access to vacancy information, telephone and fax facilities and also an employment information computer package. Specialist advisers often join the regular JobsBus staff to offer specific advice, for example to lone parents, people returning to work after ill health or people who have health problems that affect the work that they can do. I have asked Julie Carruthers, the District Manager for Jobcentre Plus in Staffordshire, to contact you when a decision on this is reached.
	I hope this information is helpful.

Myasthenia Gravis

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the benefit entitlements for people diagnosed with myasthenia gravis.

Anne McGuire: We do not pay benefits solely based on a particular medical diagnosis.
	Incapacity benefit is intended to provide a source of income for sick and disabled people of working age who are unable to work.
	Entitlement to disability living allowance is based on mobility difficulties and/or the need for personal care which results from severe disability. Attendance allowance is available to those disabled after the age of 65. The customer's medical condition is not, necessarily, the key factor; rather it is the disablement that results from it and the effects of that disablement.

New Deal

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the Jobcentre Plus districts identified for the pilot the Building on New Deal programme; which of the districts have since been dropped from the pilot programme; and what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the changes in the number of pilots.

Margaret Hodge: Since the original announcement of 11 Building on New Deal (BoND) pilot districts in November 2004, we have undertaken a detailed planning and impact analysis to ensure that the measures detailed in the BoND strategy paper can be tested as originally envisaged, and that the design is affordable. Given this and our proposals to reduce the number of Jobcentre Plus districts, we have decided that seven areas are sufficient to test the effectiveness of BoND. This allows for the robust evaluation needed to inform decisions on national implementation.
	The seven chosen areas allow us to test BoND in different types of labour markets across the country, including urban and rural locations, and areas with a greater concentration of people from black and minority ethnic communities. Seven comparator areas have been chosen using the same criteria, enabling a clear comparison of performance between BoND and comparator areas.
	The Jobcentre Plus districts identified to pilot BoND from October 2006 are: Ayrshire, Dumfries, Galloway and Inverclyde; Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire; Cardiff and Vale; Cheshire and Warrington; Cornwall; Northamptonshire; and North East London.
	The BoND comparator areas are: Highlands, Islands and Clyde Coast; Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire; Staffordshire; Kent; Cumbria ; Hampshire and Isle of Wight; and South East London.
	Calderdale and Kirklees; Gateshead and South Tyneside; Norfolk; and The Marches have now been removed from the pilots. This change will not affect the validity of the evaluation.

New Deal

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on progress on Building on New Deal for Work, with particular reference to (a) decentralisation of decision making, (b) specialist programmes for individual needs and (c) the establishment of pilot areas.

Margaret Hodge: We have achieved significant success in our new deal programmes, helping over a million people in to work. We are determined to build on this achievement to deliver more support for those people who face the most difficult barriers to work.
	Building on new deal will give personal advisers and local managers greater flexibility, allowing them to provide tailored support to better meet the needs of individuals and of local labour markets. It will also give them more scope to work in partnership with employers and other agencies to tackle local problems that prevent more people moving from benefit dependency to work.
	Personal advisers will be able to select from a range of programme provision to address the individual needs of our customers. This will include specialist provision, such as Access to Work, offering a grant to disabled people and those with health conditions to help them overcome the particular barriers they face in the workplace, and progress2work and progress2work LinkUP, which have been developed to provide further support for those facing the greatest disadvantages in the labour market, including recovering alcohol misusers, ex-offenders and homeless people.
	The seven Jobcentre Plus districts identified to pilot BoND from October 2006 are: Ayrshire, Dumfries, Galloway and Inverclyde; Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire; Cardiff and Vale; Cheshire and Warrington; Cornwall; Northamptonshire, and North East London.
	Seven comparator areas have been chosen using the same criteria, enabling a clear comparison of performance between BoND and comparator areas. The BoND comparator areas are: Highlands, Islands and Clyde Coast; Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire; Staffordshire; Kent; Cumbria; Hampshire and Isle of Wight, and South East London.
	The seven chosen areas will allow us to test BoND in different types of labour market across the country, including urban and rural locations, and areas of high ethnicity.

Office for Disability Issues

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the level of publicity for his Department's recent consultation on the establishment of the Office for Disability Issues; and whether this process was compatible with the Cabinet Office code of practice for public consultations.

Anne McGuire: The consultation referred to was an informal exercise, and was publicised in the disability press and on a number of disability related websites. In addition I wrote to over 60 leading disability organisations notifying them of the exercise, and issued a press release. We contacted a range of interested organisations and individuals using contact details held by this Department, and Central Office of Information, passing on information about the consultation, and asking them to cascade the information further.
	Officials are currently analysing the results of this consultation exercise; and once this analysis is complete, the results will be published. I am confident that the publicity for this exercise was compatible with the Cabinet Office code of practice for public consultations, although it was not a formal consultation exercise, and therefore was not subject to the code.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Adoptions

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many adoptions of (a) children under three years and (b) all children have been completed in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The number of adoption orders made for all children in England and Wales for 1 January 1999 to 31 December 2003 (latest figures available) is set out in the following table. A breakdown of these figures by age could be provided at only disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1999 4,987 
			 2000 5,086 
			 2001 5,384 
			 2002 5,485 
			 2003 5,354 
		
	
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics
	Statistical information on the total number of adoptions is included in the Statistics Series "Marriage, divorce and adoptions", Volume FM2, published by the Office for National Statistics. A copy of this publication is available in the House of Commons Library and on the Office for National Statistics' website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk= 581&Pos=1&ColRank=2&Rank=192

Adoptions

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many adoptions were completed in the last 12 months in each local authority area.

Maria Eagle: Information on all adoptions that were completed in the last 12 months by local authority area is not collected centrally.
	However, information is available on the number of looked after children, by local authority area, adopted in 2003–04. This information may be found in table 18 of "Children Looked After by Local Authorities, Year Ending 31 March 2004" available on the Department's website at: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/VOL/v000569/vweb01–2005_2.pdf.

Departmental Skills Development Plan

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which individual is responsible for developing and implementing her Department's Skills Development Plan.

Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend, the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 2 November 2005, Official Report, column 1074W. In the Department of Education and Skills, the Human Resources Director is responsible for ensuring the development and implementation of the DfES Skills Development Plan.

Gershon Review

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many full-time equivalent employee reductions as a result of the Gershon review have been made; what (a) cost savings relating to IT projects and (b) total value of efficiency savings (i) were achieved in 2004–05 and (ii) are expected to be achieved in 2005–06; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: holding answer 2 November 2005
	As at September 2005 my Department had made 774 full-time equivalent employee reductions. Further progress will be reported in the Department's Autumn Performance Report.
	In 2004–05 my Department realised efficiencies of some £30.56 million in procurement of ICT related goods and services. My Department has an efficiency target for 2007–08 but no intermediate targets.
	We do however expect to realise significant efficiencies through our IT related programmes. Progress will be reported in the Department's Autumn Performance Report. The Department has an efficiency target for 2007–08 but no intermediate target for 2005–06.

Learning and Skills Council

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list in ascending order the percentage change in 16 to 18 years participation budgets for education in Learning and Skills Council sub-regions between 2003–04 and 2004–05.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 21 October 2005
	The Department allocates funds for further education and training in the post-16 learning and skills sector, including 16 to 18 years participation, to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) working through 47 local offices. The LSC was established in 2001 bringing the planning and funding of post-16 education together under one body within a framework set by Government.
	In 2003–04 the LSC spent £2,073 million on 16 to 18 years provision nationally. In 2004–05 this increased to £2,342 million—an increase of 9 per cent.
	My Department does not hold figures at local or regional levels. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive has responded to you with further details about the specific issues you have raised. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.
	Letter from Mark Haysom to Mr. John Grogan, dated 9 November 2005
	I write in response to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills referred to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) by Bill Rammell regarding the percentage change in 16 to 18 years and adult participation budgets for education in local Learning and Skills Councils and Regions between 2003–04 and 2004–05.
	The LSC allocates funds for further education through the 47 local Learning and Skills Councils. The funds are allocated on an academic year basis.
	The attached spreadsheets show the distribution of the FE funding in ascending order by local Council and at regional level showing the cash and percentage variance between 2003/04 and 2004/05.
	I hope you find this helpful.
	
		Local council level
		
			 Local council Region 2003/04 16–18 allocation 2004/06 16–18 allocation 2003/04–2004/05 16–18 cash variance 2003/04–2004/05 16–18 % variance 
		
		
			 Northumberland North East 4,149,134 4,346,485 197,351 4.76 
			 Herefordshire and Worcestershire West Midlands 30,164,075 32,805,210 2,641,135 8.76 
			 Black Country West Midlands 49,511,303 53,918,189 4,406,886 8.90 
			 Coventry and Warwickshire West Midlands 34,128,247 37,212,976 3,084,729 9.04 
			 Wiltshire and Swindon South West 24,629,000 26,964,435 2,335,435 9.48 
			 Shropshire West Midlands 20,910,762 22,911,860 2,001,098 9.57 
			 Somerset South West 28,585,480 31,328,688 2,743,208 9.60 
			 South Yorkshire Yorkshire and Humberside 50,961,859 55,910,624 4,948,765 9.71 
			 Essex East of England 69,871,857 76,693,961 6,822,104 9.76 
			 Birmingham and Solihull West Midlands 64,710,412 71,256,201 6,545,789 10.12 
			 North Yorkshire Yorkshire and Humberside 27,099,782 29,852,000 2,752,218 10.16 
			 Bedfordshire and Luton East of England 23,081,000 25,431,000 2,350,000 10.18 
			 Cumbria North West 14,037,453 15,469,417 1,431,964 10.20 
			 Cheshire and Warrington North West 35,508,800 39,131,079 3,622,279 10.20 
			 Staffordshire West Midlands 40,115,108 44,282,477 4,167,369 10.39 
			 County Durham North East 16,279,252 17,973,450 1,694,198 10.41 
			 Lincolnshire and Rutland East Midlands 19,287,552 21,341,237 2,053,685 10.65 
			 Greater Manchester North West 151,547,000 167,886,674 16,339,674 10.78 
			 Gloucestershire South West 21,121,473 23,413,352 2,291,879 10.85 
			 London South London 65,809,153 73,407,987 7,598,834 11.55 
			 Leicestershire East Midlands 35,954,804 40,124,809 4,170,00 11.60 
			 Milton Keynes. Oxfordshire and  Buckinghamshire South East 34,065,272 38,030,891 3,965,619 11.64 
			 Tees Valley North East 50,361,276 56,303,066 5,941,790 11.80 
			 Nottinghamshire East Midlands 40,560,418 45,353,801 4,793,383 11.82 
			 Humberside Yorkshire and Humberside 50,383,173 56,528,970 6,145,797 12.20 
			 West Yorkshire Yorkshire and Humberside 76,342,462 85,665,482 9,323,020 12.21 
			 Lancashire North West 77,185,872 86,726,000 9,540,128 12.36 
			 Tyne and Wear North East 48,098,648 54,122,464 6,023,816 12.52 
			 London East London 83,536,737 94,260,009 10,723,272 12.84 
			 Hertfordshire East of England 29, 927,000 33,769,515 3, 842,515 12.84 
			 West of England South West 37,375,423 42,248,021 4,872,598 13.04 
			 Greater Merseyside North West 62,769,780 71,173,871 8,404,091 13.39 
			 London Central London 60,281,227 68,615,179 8,333,952 13.83 
			 Derbyshire East Midlands 26,968,993 30,864,603 3,895,610 14.44 
			 Surrey South East 55,096,612 63,251,852 8,155,240 14.80 
			 Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole South West 17,584,069 20,226,960 2,642,891 15.03 
			 London West London 49,624,216 57,426,107 7,801,891 15.72 
			 Devon and Cornwall South West 61,558,736 71,420,289 9,861,553 16.02 
			 Sussex South East 64,940,000 75,669,591 10,729,591 16.52 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight South East 116,079,531 136,064,913 19,985,382 17.22 
			 London North London 46,370,518 54,400,121 8,029,603 17.32 
			 Cambridgeshire East of England 29,206,758 34,265,301 5,058,543 17.32 
			 Berkshire South East 21,102, 970 24,758,140 3,655,170 17.32 
			 Norfolk East of England 27,796,306 32,724,879 4,928,573 17.73 
			 Northamptonshire East Midlands 19,252,000 23,314,158 4,062,158 21.10 
			 Kent and Medway South East 43,698,000 55,240,992 11,542,992 26.42 
			 Suffolk East of England 15,124,859 19,991,757 4,866,898 32.18 
		
	
	
		Regional level
		
			 Region 2003/04 16–18 allocation 2004/06 16–18 allocation 2003/04–2004/05 16–18 cash variance 2003/04–2004/05 16–18 % variance 
		
		
			 West Midlands 239,539,907 262,386,913 22,847,006 9.54 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 204,787,276 227,957,076 23,169,800 11.31 
			 North West 341,048,905 380,387,041 39,338,136 11.53 
			 North East 118,888,310 132,745,465 13,857,155 11.66 
			 South West 190,854,181 215,601,745 24,747,564 12.97 
			 East Midlands 142,023,767 160,998,608 18,974,841 13.36 
			 London 305,621,851 348,109,403 42,487,552 13.90 
			 East of England 195,007,780 222,876,413 27,868,633 14.29 
			 South East 334,982,385 393,016,379 58,033,994 17.32 
			  2,072,754,362 2,344,079,043 271,324,681 13.09

Learning and Skills Council

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list in ascending order the percentage change in the adult participation in further education budgets for each Learning and Skills Council sub-region between 2003–04 and 2004–05.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 21 October 2005
	The Department allocates funds for further education and training in the post-16 learning and skills sector, including adult participation, to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) working through 47 local offices. The LSC was established in 2001 bringing the planning and funding of post-16 education together under one body within a framework set by Government.
	In 2003–04 the LSC spent £1,756 million on adult participation nationally. In 2004–05 this increased to £1,847 million—an increase of 10 per cent.
	My Department does not hold figures at local or regional levels. Mark Haysom, the council's chief executive has responded to you with further details about the specific issues you have raised. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.
	Letter from Mark Haysom to Mr. John Grogan, dated 9 November 2005
	I write in response to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills referred to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) by Bill Rammell regarding the percentage change in 16 to 18 years and adult participation budgets for education in local Learning and Skills Councils and Regions between 2003–04 and 2004–05.
	The LSC allocates funds for further education through the 47 local Learning and Skills Councils. The funds are allocated on an academic year basis.
	The attached spreadsheets show the distribution of the FE funding in ascending order by local Council and at regional level showing the cash and percentage variance between 2003/04 and 2004/05.
	I hope you find this helpful.
	
		Local council level -- £
		
			   16–18 
			   2003/04 2004/05 2003/04 to 2004/05 2003/04 to 2004/05 
			 Local council Region Allocation Allocation Cash variance Percentage variance 
		
		
			 Northumberland North East 4,149,134 4,346,485 197,351 4.76 
			 Herefordshire and Worcestershire West Midlands 30,164,075 32,805,210 2,641,135 8.76 
			 Black Country West Midlands 49,511,303 53,918,189 4,406,886 8.90 
			 Coventry and Warwickshire West Midlands 34,128,247 37,212,976 3,084,729 9.04 
			 Wiltshire and Swindon South West 24,629,000 26,964,435 2,335,435 9.48 
			 Shropshire West Midlands 20,910,762 22,911,860 2,001,098 9.57 
			 Somerset South West 28,585,480 31,328,688 2,743,208 9.60 
			 South Yorkshire Yorkshire and Humberside 50,961,859 55,910,624 4,948,765 9.71 
			 Essex East of England 69,871,857 76,693,961 6,822,104 9.76 
			 Birmingham and Solihull West Midlands 64,710,412 71,256,201 6,545,789 10.12 
			 North Yorkshire Yorkshire and Humberside 27,099,782 29,852,000 2,752,218 10.16 
			 Bedfordshire and Luton East of England 23,081,000 25,431,000 2,350,000 10.18 
			 Cumbria North West 14,037,453 15,469,417 1,431,964 10.20 
			 Cheshire and Warrington North West 35,508,800 39,131,079 3,622,279 10.20 
			 Staffordshire West Midlands 40,115,108 44,282,477 4,167,369 10.39 
			 County Durham North East 16,279,252 17,973,450 1,694,198 10.41 
			 Lincolnshire and Rutland East Midlands 19,287,552 21,341,237 2,053,685 10.65 
			 Greater Manchester North West 151,547,000 167,886,674 16,339,674 10.78 
			 Gloucestershire South West 21,121,473 23,413,352 2,291,879 10.85 
			 London South London 65,809,153 73,407,987 7,598,834 11.55 
			 Leicestershire East Midlands 35,954,804 40,124,809 4,170,005 11.60 
			 Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and  Buckinghamshire South East 34,065,272 38,030,891 3,965,619 11.64 
			 Tees Valley North East 50,361,276 56,303,066 5,941,790 11.80 
			 Nottinghamshire East Midlands 40,560,418 45,353,801 4,793,383 11.82 
			 Humberside Yorkshire and Humberside 50,383,173 56,528,970 6,145,797 12.20 
			 West Yorkshire Yorkshire and Humberside 76,342,462 85,665,482 9,323,020 12.21 
			 Lancashire North West 77,185,872 86,726,000 9,540,128 12.36 
			 Tyne and Wear North East 48,098,648 54,122,464 6,023,816 12.52 
			 London East London 83,536,737 94,260,009 10,723,272 12.84 
			 Hertfordshire East of England 29,927,000 33,769,515 3,842,515 12.84 
			 West of England South West 37,375,423 42,248,021 4,872,598 13.04 
			 Greater Merseyside North West 62,769,780 71,173,871 8,404,091 13.39 
			 London Central London 60,281,227 68,615,179 8,333,952 13.83 
			 Derbyshire East Midlands 26,968,993 30,864,603 3,895,610 14.44 
			 Surrey South East 55,096,612 63,251,852 8,155,240 14.80 
			 Bournemouth. Dorset and Poole South West 17,584,069 20,226,960 2,642,891 15.03 
			 London West London 49,624,216 57,426,107 7,801,891 15.72 
			 Devon and Cornwall South West 61,558,736 71,420,289 9,861,553 16.02 
			 Sussex South East 64,940,000 75,669,591 10,729,591 16.52 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight South East 116,079,531 136,064,913 19,985,382 17.22 
			 London North London 46,370,518 54,400,121 8,029,603 17.32 
			 Cambridgeshire East of England 29,206,758 34,265,301 5,058,543 17.32 
			 Berkshire South East 21,102,970 24,758,140 3,655,170 17.32 
			 Norfolk East of England 27,796,306 32,724,879 4,928,573 17.73 
			 Northamptonshire East Midlands 19,252,000 23,314,158 4,062,158 21.10 
			 Kent and Medway South East 43,698,000 55,240,992 11,542,992 26.42 
			 Suffolk East of England 15,124.859 19,991,757 4,866,898 32.18 
			   2,072,754,362 2,344,079,043 271,324,681 13.09 
		
	
	
		Regional level -- £
		
			  16–18 
			  2003/04 2004/05 2003/04 to 2004/05 2003/04 to 2004/05 
			 Region Allocation Allocation Cash variance Percentage variance 
		
		
			 West Midlands 239,539,907 262,386,913 22,847,006 9.54 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 204,787,276 227,957,076 23,169,800 11.31 
			 North West 341,048,905 380,387,041 39,338,136 11.53 
			 North East 118,888,310 132,745,465 13,857,155 11.66 
			 South West 190,854,181 215,601,745 24,747,564 12.97 
			 East Midlands 142,023,767 160,998,608 18,974,841 13.36 
			 London 305,621,851 348,109,403 42,487,552 13.90 
			 East of England 195,007,780 222,876,413 27,868,633 14.29 
			 South East 334,982,385 393,016,379 58,033,994 17.32 
			  2,072,754,362 2,344,079,043 271,324,681 13.09

Looked-after Children

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to ensure the target is met on the proportion of looked-after children placed for adoption within 12 months of the decision that adoption is in the child's best interests.

Maria Eagle: Performance on this measure remained stable between 2002–03 and 2003–04. Statistics for 2004–05 will be published on 24 November 2005. We will be reviewing factors that influence performance on this measure in light of the full implementation of the Adoption and Children Act 2002. The Act and its associated regulations and statutory guidance will come into effect on 30 December 2005.

Looked-after Children

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to reduce the percentage of looked-after children subject to a final warning or reprimand.

Maria Eagle: The percentage of looked-after children convicted or subject to a final warning or reprimand fell from 10.3 per cent. in 2001 to 9.3 per cent. in 2004. Our work to raise educational achievement and improve placement stability will contribute towards continued reductions in offending and improvements in other outcomes for looked after children. Funded by the Government, MACRO have recently published a good practice guide on reducing offending by looked-after children, which reinforces the message that looked-after children must be provided with constructive supervision and guidance to reduce the risk of offending, and that those who have offended must be offered appropriate services to minimise the likelihood of re-offending. This publication has been distributed to all Directors of Children's Services and all YOT managers. We intend to consult early in 2006 on further wide ranging proposals for transforming outcomes for looked-after children.

Lyons Review

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people in her Department were relocated in 2004–05 as a result of Sir Michael Lyons' independent review of public sector relocation, broken down by location; to which location they have been relocated; how many are expected to be relocated in 2005–06; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: holding answer 1 November 2005
	My Department and sponsored organisations are implementing the Lyons Review recommendations to relocate around 800 posts from the Department and its non-department public bodies out of London and the South East by 2010.
	In 2004–05, 58 posts in DfES itself were relocated from London to our existing offices in Runcorn, Sheffield and Darlington. So far in 2005–06, 21 posts have been relocated and up to a further nine posts will have relocated by the end of period. The breakdown of posts relocated by location is: 43 to Runcorn, 32 to Sheffield and four to Darlington. A further four posts will move to Runcorn and two posts to Sheffield. The locations of the remaining three posts have not been confirmed.
	There have been no transfers of DfES staff out of London to fill these posts.

Public Service Agreements

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will assess progress on the Public Service Agreement target to narrow the gap in educational achievement between looked after children and their peers.

Maria Eagle: Progress towards the achievement of the Department's Public Service Agreement Targets is reported in our Spring Departmental Report and our Autumn Performance Report. The Spring Departmental Report was published on 20 June 2005 and the Autumn Performance Report is due to be published on or before 19 December 2005.
	Copies of Departmental Reports and Autumn Performance Reports are available from the House of Commons Library.

Schools (Putney)

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which schools in Putney will receive funding as part of the Schools Access Initiative; and how much has been allocated to each school in (a) 2004–05 (b) 2005–06 (c) 2006–07 and (d) 2007–08.

Maria Eagle: holding answer 10 November
	The Schools Access Initiative provides resources to local authorities to help make mainstream schools accessible to pupils with disabilities. £300 million has been made available for the first access planning period under Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (2003–2006), with a further £100 million per annum announced for both 2006–07 and 2007–08. The funding is allocated to local authorities and it is for each authority to decide its priority schemes in light of the local needs and circumstances detailed in their accessibility strategy. They are not required to provide us with information detailing how they have spent their allocation of the School Access Initiative on the schools they are responsible for.

Special Educational Needs

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what level of (a) qualifications and (b) experience is required to be a school Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The Department's Special Educational Needs (SEN) Code of Practice, published in November 2001, makes it clear that the SEN co-ordinator should be closely involved with the head teacher, senior management and teachers, in the strategic development of a school's SEN policy. Once it has been agreed, the SENCO should have responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the policy and for co-ordinating provision for pupils with SEN, particularly through "School Action" and "School Action Plus".
	SENCOs are selected and appointed by head teachers. There are no specific qualifications which a SENCO has to have, although we would normally expect a head to appoint someone with a proven track record of successful working with children with SEN and disabilities.
	Working in collaboration with the National Association for Special Educational Needs, the Department has recently arranged a series of discussion sessions for primary and secondary SENCOs designed to identify aspects of good practice in relation to the SENCO role, for dissemination through NASEN publications and otherwise.

Trust Schools

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 7 November 2005, Official Report, column 132W, on trust schools, how many schools have (a) applied for, (b) received and (c) been refused permission to borrow against their assets in each year since 1997; and what the current total amount is of such borrowing, broken down by category of maintained school.

Jacqui Smith: We have not received any applications for permission to borrow. Guidance to schools sets out our policy that we think such borrowing will rarely represent value for money. This is because the cost of a commercial loan, which includes an element of profit and an allowance for risk, will always tend to be more expensive than the alternative of direct funding by Government. A small number of schools and local authorities have made inquiries, but we do not keep records of this.

Under-achievement

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the capacity of schools to provide mentoring for pupils from low socio-economic backgrounds.

Beverley Hughes: The Excellence in Cities Programme introduced Learning Mentor support to schools and colleges, with the funding targeted towards disadvantaged groups and areas of under-achievement (through around 60 full partnerships and 78 smaller clusters).
	The Excellence in Cities programme was specifically introduced to tackle years of under-achievement in our most socially and economically disadvantaged areas. The additional support and funding provided by the Excellence in Cities programme has significantly increased the capacity of schools in deprived areas to address the socio economic factors of under attainment. Partnership working has allowed schools to target resources and strategies to raise attainment across whole communities. Strands such as Gifted and Talented, Learning Mentors, Learning Support Units, City Learning Centres, Aimhigher and Study Support have, among other things, pioneered personalised learning programmes; tackled barriers to learning; extended study opportunities for pupils, providing access to state of the art ICT; enabled ICT led innovation in the delivery of the curriculum; fostered new approaches to teaching and learning; kept at risk pupils in school and engaged in the curriculum; and enhanced continuing professional development for teachers.
	This funding will become part of mainstream provision from 1 April 2006 as an element of the ring fenced and index linked Dedicated Schools Grant. The Dedicated Schools Grant will be available to all schools and will enable Learning Mentor and other related provision to spread more broadly, reflecting local need.
	It is important to bear in mind that there are additional forms of mentoring provided within schools which are not provided by school learning mentors (employed by the school/local authority) e.g. peer and voluntary mentoring. There is also the work carried out by the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation http.www.mandbf.org.uk/.

HEALTH

Alcohol-related Hospital Admissions

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many alcohol-related admissions there were to Darent Valley hospital and its predecessor hospitals that served the Gravesham constituency in each year since 1997.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is not collected at hospital level. However, the following table shows the number of finished admission episodes for alcohol-related diseases for residents of Gravesham local authority, for which the Dartford and Gravesham national health service trust was the treatment provider.
	
		Counts of finished admission episodes where there was a primary diagnosis code for selected alcohol-related diseases(11). Local authority district of residence: Gravesham. Provider of treatment: RN7 Dartford and Gravesham NHS trust. NHS hospitals England, 1997–98 to 2003–04
		
			  Finished admission episodes 
		
		
			 1997–98 19 
			 1998–99 23 
			 1999–2000 26 
			 2000–01 16 
			 2001–02 35 
			 2002–03 39 
			 2003–04 43 
		
	
	(11) Alcohol related diseases defined as following ICD-10 codes recorded in primary diagnosis:
	F10: Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol.
	K70: Alcoholic liver disease.
	T51: Toxic effect of alcohol.
	Notes:
	1. A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	2. The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14, seven prior to 2002–03, diagnosis fields in the hospital episode statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital. Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data, that is, the data is ungrossed.
	Source:
	HES, NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Alzheimer's Disease

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the benefits of (a) Donepezil, (b) Galantamine, (c) Memantine and (d) Rivastigamine for people with Alzheimer's disease.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 8 November 2005
	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently assessing the clinical and cost-effectiveness of Donepezil, Galantamine, Memantine and Rivastigamine for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Information about NICE'S current work programme is available on the NICE'S website at www.nice.org.uk.

Asthma

Kevin Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the Government's plan is for phasing out CFC asthma inhalers; and what the timetable is for that phase-out.

Jane Kennedy: The Government's plan for phasing out chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) asthma inhalers is set out in the "UK Transition Strategy for CFC-based MDIs", which was published by the Department and the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in 1999. The strategy states that when an adequate number and range of CFC-free metered dose inhalers (MDIs) to meet patient needs are available for an individual drug, the use of CFCs will no longer be considered essential for that drug product.
	Manufacturers are developing CFC-free alternatives for other products, and, in accordance with the transition strategy, the availability of these will determine the timescale for the phase out. The European Commission, with member states, is currently reviewing the scope for further declarations of non-essentiality in relation to a number of other drug products used in inhalers.

Avian Influenza

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions the Government have had with the Chinese authorities regarding the human health implications of recently reported outbreaks of avian influenza in central Hunan, Inner Mongolia and Anhui provinces.

Rosie Winterton: The United Kingdom Government have not had any specific discussions with the Chinese authorities regarding the avian influenza outbreaks in central Hunan, Inner Mongolia and Anhui provinces. The World Health Organisation has been taking the lead on the worldwide response to avian influenza including discussion with affected countries.
	I recently attended an international meeting of health ministers in Ottowa, which discussed avian and pandemic influenza issues. The Chinese Health Minister was also present.

Cancer

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether her Department plans to monitor the uptake of Herceptin among women with (a) advanced breast cancer and (b) early-stage breast cancer.

Jane Kennedy: The National Cancer Director, Professor Mike Richards, will be publishing a report in the new year on the uptake of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) approved cancer drugs. This report will cover Herceptin for women with advanced breast cancer.
	Herceptin for early breast cancer has not been approved by NICE so will not be covered by Professor Richard's report. However, if Herceptin for early breast cancer is approved by NICE, progress on its uptake will then be assessed by the Healthcare Commission who have responsibility for monitoring the implementation of NICE guidance.

Cancer

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information her Department holds on the United Kingdom morbidity and mortality rates for skin cancer in each year since 1979; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The latest available figures for the incidence and mortality of melanoma skin cancer in England and Wales are for the year 2003. Age-standardised incidence and mortality rates by sex for the years 1979 to 2003 are shown in the table.
	
		Age-standardised rates(12) of melanoma skin cancer(13) in England and Wales, by sex, 1979–2003 -- Rates per 100,000
		
			  Incidence Mortality(14) 
			  Male Female Male Female 
		
		
			 1979 2.8 4.8 1.6 1.6 
			 1980 3.0 5.0 1.6 1.6 
			 1981 3.2 5.4 1.7 1.6 
			 1982 3.3 5.7 1.7 1.8 
			 1983 3.6 6.1 1.7 1.5 
			 1984 3.5 6.1 1.9 1.7 
			 1985 4.6 7.6 1.9 1.7 
			 1986 4.7 7.4 1.8 1.9 
			 1987 5.4 8.4 1.9 1.8 
			 1988 6.3 9.0 1.9 1.9 
			 1989 5.7 8.4 2.0 1.9 
			 1990 6.0 7.5 2.2 1.9 
			 1991 5.9 7.7 2.3 1.8 
			 1992 6.5 8.4 2.2 1.7 
			 1993 7.5 9.6 2.6 2.2 
			 1994 7.4 9.4 2.4 2.2 
			 1995 7.3 9.6 2.6 2.0 
			 1996 7.3 9.2 2.5 2.0 
			 1997 7.8 9.3 2.5 2.0 
			 1998 8.4 9.8 2.6 2.1 
			 1999 8.1 9.6 2.7 2.0 
			 2000 9.7 11.1 2.8 2.1 
			 2001 10.1 11.7 2.6 2.0 
			 2002 10.6 12.2 2.7 1.9 
			 2003 11.0 12.5 2.8 2.0 
		
	
	(12) Directly age standardised using the European standard population.
	(13) Melanoma skin cancer is defined as code 172 in the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD9) and as code C43 in the Tenth Revision (ICD10).
	(14) Data is for registrations of death per calendar year from 1979 to 1992 and for occurrences of death per calendar year from 1993 onwards.
	Sources:
	Office for National Statistics
	Welsh cancer intelligence and surveillance unit.

Cancer

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on (a) prevention, (b) diagnosis and (c) treatment of skin cancer;
	(2)  what (a) guidance her Department has issued and (b) campaigns her Department is undertaking to raise awareness of skin cancer.

Caroline Flint: The Department and the other United Kingdom health Departments have commissioned Cancer Research UK to run SunSmart, which was launched in 2003, as the national skin cancer prevention and sun protection campaign. The SunSmart campaign includes raising both public and professional awareness of skin cancer through providing information about it and guidance on preventative measures to reduce the risks associated with skin cancer and exposure to sunlight. The campaign raises awareness through support for health promotion events, the provision of printed resources, media briefings and through the SunSmart website at http://cancerresearch uk.org/sunsmart/. SunSmart also supports schools in developing their own sun protection policies through school guidelines and curriculum resources.
	SunSmart's printed resources and the website contain prevention messages on avoiding excess sunlight and ultraviolet rays and using protective screening methods including covering up in the sunlight and the use of effective sunscreen products. The campaign also provides information to help recognise the symptoms of the different types of skin cancer and on seeking medical advice if necessary.
	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has recently issued updated referral guidelines for suspected cancer to assist general practitioners in determining those patients who need to be referred urgently to see a specialist within two weeks. The guidance addresses skin cancers.
	The Department and the Welsh Assembly have also commissioned NICE to produce service guidance for skin tumours including melanoma. This guidance is due for publication in January 2006 and will address area such as diagnosis, treatment and follow up.

Coenzynme Q

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has commissioned on the effects of the supplement coenzyme Q on those suffering from schizophrenia.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has not commissioned research on the effects of the supplement coenzyme Q on those suffering from schizophrenia.

Departmental Spending

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department spent on items of art in 200405.

Jane Kennedy: The Department did not purchase any items of art in 200405.

Departmental Staff

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff were employed in her Department on 30 September; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The number of staff employed by the Department on 30 September 2005 is shown in the table. This figure includes staff on loan into the Department. It does not include staff on a career break who are not currently paid by the Department. The figure also includes staff who are designated to transfer out of the Department and staff who are on secondment to other organisations; these staff remain on the Department's payroll, although in most cases, the Department is reimbursed for their salary.
	
		Staff employed by the Department of Health, September 2005
		
			  Total 
		
		
			 Employee  
			 Headcount 2,450 
			 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 2,361.1 
			   
			 Fixed term appointment  
			 Headcount 62 
			 FTE 58.6 
			   
			 Total headcount 2,512 
			 Total FTE 2,419.8

Easyway (International) Ltd

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether her Department has received a request for a meeting from Allen Carr's Easyway (International) Ltd.

Caroline Flint: The Department has received several requests to meet the Allen Carr Easyway (International) Ltd.
	The Department regularly receives approaches about smoking cessation techniques and recognises that there are a number of methods that may help smokers to quit. In terms of national policy, the focus is on those methods with accumulated independent evidence of efficacy.
	The Department, following guidance from the National Institute for Health Clinical Excellence (NICE), endorsed the use on the national health service of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and bupropion (Zyban) as effective stop smoking aids. Used in conjunction with trained support through the NHS stop smoking service, smokers are up to four times more likely to quit successfully than using willpower alone.
	I am aware that Allen Carr's Easyway (International) Ltd is in contact with NICE to make their case and I am sure that, in deciding what should be available on the NHS, this is the appropriate route.

Emergency Preparedness

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to institute a national chemical biological radiation network alerting system; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Department works together with the Home Office and other Government Departments in responding to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents or events. The Department has instituted protocols for receiving alerts on a wide range of emergency situations. These alerts may arise from surveillance systems in operation, principally on infectious diseases and dangerous pathogens, or from other organisations that operate surveillance systems or from responders to incidents. Standard operating procedures are in place to ensure onward alerting to Government Departments and agencies and to others who need to know.
	Surveillance systems operate on a local, regional and national level and based on 24/7 service. The national network system is connected to the European Union alerting mechanisms and, through the World Health Organisation, to global alerts.

Eye Prescription Vouchers

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Government will increase the value of eye prescription vouchers for those on incapacity benefit.

Rosie Winterton: Financial help towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses, via an optical voucher, is available to children under 16, those aged under 19 in full-time education and those on a low income. The voucher value varies according to the individual's prescription. There are currently eight voucher bands ranging from 32.90 to 181.40.
	Individuals are not entitled by virtue of incapacity benefit on its own to help towards the cost of glasses, as incapacity benefit is not an income related benefit. Individuals in receipt of incapacity benefit may, however, be entitled to help via the national health service low income scheme.
	Optical voucher values are reviewed annually and any increases take effect from 1 April.

Fraud

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 12 September 2005, Official Report, column 2690W, on fraud, when she expects an estimate of the outstanding amount of fraud in all areas of NHS spending to be available.

Jane Kennedy: The Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (CFSMS) risk measurement methodology is applied to accurately measure losses to fraud in areas of national health service spending in order to identify the scale of the problem and take firm action to prevent this from occurring. CFSMS is currently working on measuring losses in major areas of the NHS budget and has for example been actively involved in seeking to fraud-proof the new general practitioner contract. Continued measurements of losses to fraud will take place as weaknesses are identified and substantive budgets affected. This is and must be an ongoing process as spending areas and budget allocations will continue to change. As such, there can be no accurate overall estimate of the outstanding amount of fraud in the NHS, only a continuous effort to identify weaknesses as budgets and policies change and evolve.

Gas/Electricity Supplies

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals have interruptible contracts for gas and electricity supply; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: In 2003, the total number of national health service interruptible sites stood at around 130 for England. In 2005, the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency arranged contracts for 109 interruptible sites.
	There are a further 15 to 20 interruptible sites which are not contracted for centrally but via the local facilities management or private finance initiative provider.

Hospital-acquired Infections

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 12 September 2005, Official Report, column 2695W, on mandatory surveillance, how many incidents of (a) the glycopeptide resistant enterococci, (b) orthopaedic surgical site infections and (c) serious untoward incidents associated with infection there have been in (i) England, (ii) each region, (iii) each strategic health authority and (iv) each NHS trust.

Jane Kennedy: Mandatory reporting of glycopeptide resistant enterococcal blood stream infections (bacteraemias) was introduced in October 2003 and a total of 620 bacteraemias were reported in the year from October 2003 to September 2004. Data for England and its regions was published in the Communicable Disease Report (CDR) Weekly on 25 August 2005 1 and information on individual trusts was published on the Department's website 2 . Data for individual strategic health authorities (SHAs) have not been published.
	Mandatory reporting of orthopaedic surgical site infections was introduced in April 2004 and in the first year of reporting data on 41,242 orthopaedic operations were analysed and 593 infections reported. Data for individual trusts were published on the Department's website on 28 October 2005 3 and a fuller report has been published by the Health Protection Agency 4 . Data are not available by region or SHA.
	Reporting of serious untoward incidents associated with hospital infections was introduced in September 2003 and a report will be published later this year.
	1 Results of the first year of mandatory glycopeptide resistant enterococci (GRE) reporting: October 2003 to September 2004. Communicable Disease Report (CDR) Weekly 2005; 15 (34) 25 August 2005:www.hpa.org.uk/cdr/archives/2005/BAct_GRE_ 3405.pdf.
	2 Department of Health mandatory GRE bacteraemia surveillance scheme. GRE reports by national health service acute trust in England October 2003 to September 2004:
	www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/11/83/59/04118359.pdf.
	3 Surveillance of surgical site infection in orthopaedic surgery: mandatory surveillance of surgical site infection in orthopaedic surgery: Report of data collected between April 2004 and March 2005:
	www.dh.org.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/PublicationsStatistics/PublicationsStatisticsArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4122133chk=5Wg/Y5.
	4 Mandatory surveillance of surgical site infection in orthopaedic surgery, April 2004 to March 2005:
	www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/hai/SSI_mandatory_ 0405report.pdf.

Infection Control

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will summarise the results of the (a) national observational study of the effectiveness of the cleanyourhands campaign and (b) cluster-randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of feedback in intensive care units and acute general medical wards; and what plans she has to commission further research on compliance with hand hygiene in the NHS.

Jane Kennedy: The research projects to which the hon. Member refers began earlier this year. The results of the national observational study will become available in 2006, and final results from the randomised controlled trial in 2008.
	The Department does not at present have plans for further research on compliance with hand hygiene.

Influenza

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in (a) Herefordshire, (b) Worcestershire and (c) England have received a free influenza vaccine.

Rosie Winterton: The first monitoring uptake data for Staffordshire and England will be available on 14 November.

Information (South Asian Patients)

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to improve the quality of information provided to patients, with particular reference to patients of South Asian origin.

Rosie Winterton: Standards are the main drivers for continuous improvement in quality in health care. Independent inspections by the Healthcare Commission are designed to drive up standards by identifying areas for improvement.
	Last year, the Department published National Standards, Local Action. This sets out that primary care trusts should ensure that adequate patient information and support processes are set up and, particularly, provide targeted support that addresses the needs of individuals and communities, including black and minority ethnic groups.
	The Department also published Better information, better choices, better health at the end of last year; a three-year strategy to enhance accessibility and quality of health care information for everyone. The strategy contains measures to improve the information available, as well as support to access and use it, in particular focusing on groups that have difficulty accessing health care information, including patients of South Asian origin.

Kettering General Hospital

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) in-patients and (b) out-patients have been treated at Kettering general hospital in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		Number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) and patients at the Kettering general hospital national health service trust for each year between 199798 and 200304
		
			  FCEs Patient counts 
		
		
			 199798 59,793 34,983 
			 199899 62,318 36,976 
			 19992000 63,485 37,414 
			 200001 64,701 38,685 
			 200102 64,101 39,724 
			 200203 60,141 37,168 
			 200304 65,229 39,888 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. A FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that the figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.
	2. Patient counts are based on the unique patient identifier HESID. This identifier is derived based on patient's date of birth, postcode, sex, local patient identifier and NHS number, using an agreed algorithm. Where data are incomplete, HESID might erroneously link episodes or fail to recognise episodes for the same patient. Care is therefore needed, especially where duplicate records persist in the data. The patient count cannot be summed across a table where patients may have episodes in more than one cell.
	3. Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in datathat is, the data are ungrossed. Hospital episode statistics, NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Kettering General Hospital

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds have been available at Kettering general hospital in each year since 1997, broken down by major category.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		Average daily number of available beds by sector, Kettering general hospital national health service trust, 199798 to 200405
		
			  Total General and acute Acute Geriatric Mental illness Learning disability Maternity 
		
		
			 199798 481 446 446 0 0 0 35 
			 199899 482 440 440 0 0 0 42 
			 19992000 482 435 435 0 0 0 47 
			 200001 496 445 445 0 0 0 51 
			 200102 517 452 452 0 0 0 65 
			 200203 533 468 468 0 0 0 65 
			 200304 527 470 470 0 0 0 57 
			 200405 512 456 456 0 0 0 56 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH03.

Market Research

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been paid to (a) Opinion Leader Research and (b) market research companies by her Department in each of the last three years.

Jane Kennedy: A list of expenditure on market research in each of the last three years could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
	The Department is committed to consulting and involving the public to help inform both policy formulation and the delivery of better quality public services. Responsive public services are an important part of the Modernising Government initiative.
	The Department only conducts or commissions market research when it is justified by the needs of the policy programme and is the most economical, efficient and effective way to achieve the purpose.

Mental Health

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which recommendations of the Government's working group on the Mental Health Act 1983 were (a) adopted and (b) rejected; and if she will list the members of the working group.

Rosie Winterton: An expert committee was appointed in October 1998 to review the Mental Health Act 1983. This was chaired by Professor Genevra Richardson and the committee is generally referred to as the Richardson Committee.
	The Richardson Committee produced its Report in July 1999, which was published along with the November 1999 Green Paper, Reform of the Mental Health Act 1983, which sought views on the various recommendations of the Richardson Committee. The Green Paper was followed by the White Paper, Reforming the Mental Health Act 1983 and a draft Bill for consultation in 2002.
	The responses from this consultation and further work resulted in a revised draft Mental Health Bill, which was published in September 2004. This was the subject of pre-legislative scrutiny, which resulted in a report in March 2005, a response to which was published in July 2005. The recommendations from the Richardson Committee have, therefore, been subject to considerable discussion and development over the course of the last five years and it is not possible to assess each of the recommendations in terms of whether they have been adopted or rejected.
	The Richardson Report lists all members. This is available on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/06/26/14/04062614.pdf

Mental Health

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of people likely to be eligible for placement under community treatment orders under proposals in the draft Mental Health Bill.

Rosie Winterton: The Government's modelling assumption is that around 10 per cent. of treatment orders will be community-based in the early years of the new Mental Health Act. Ensuring that professionals use involuntary community-based treatment appropriately is more critical than arbitrarily specifying the number of people who will be subject to community treatment orders.

Mental Health

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her Department's press release dated 20 October, on capital investment in mental health services, whether capital investment will be made available to NHS mental health trusts which are anticipating year-end financial deficits on their income and expenditure account.

Rosie Winterton: We expect the 130 million capital investment in mental health services announced on 20 October to be distributed to national health service mental health trusts in 200607 and 200708, based on need and investment plans. Until this allocation process is under way, we cannot say which trusts will receive this funding.

Mental Health

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is being taken by the Government to improve the standards of mental health hospitals.

Rosie Winterton: We published the national service framework for mental health (NSF) in 1999, which sets out a comprehensive vision for transforming mental health care in England to 2009. Since 1999, we have increased spending on mental health services by more than 1 billion, from 4.07 billion in 19992000 to 5.09 billion in 200304. On 20 October, we announced a 130 million capital investment programme, which will be allocated to strategic health authorities from 2006.
	This funding will help to update acute in-patient wards and psychiatric intensive care units (PICUs). Standard five of the NSF, Hospital and Crises Accommodation, is dedicated to mental health hospitals and it signals our determination to improve the experience of service users who require hospital or PICU admission. This has been followed by departmental guidance, National Minimum Standards for General Adult Services in PICUs and Low Secure Environments (2002). The National Institute of Mental Health in England is implementing this guidance as one of its core programmes.

Methylphenidate

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the annual percentage change was in prescriptions of methylphenidate to children since 1995.

Jane Kennedy: The Department do not hold information on who receives medication and so does not have information by age. However we do have data, which are sample based, for exemption categories not required to pay a charge. This is shown in the table.
	
		Estimates of annual percentage increase in prescriptions of methylphenidate to children since 2000
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 2000 18.2 
			 2001 21.4 
			 2002 19.7 
			 2003 22.6 
			 2004 12.6 
		
	
	The data include children under 16 years and young people in full-time education aged 16 to 18. Information is not available for the earlier period requested.

Ministerial Visits

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health at what time she (a) arrived at and (b) left the Your Health, Your Care, Your Say event in Birmingham on 29 October.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 7 November 2005
	I arrived at the 'Your Health, Your Care, Your Say' citizens' summit in Birmingham before 9 am on Saturday 29 October and left at 4.45 pm. I opened the event at 9.30 am with some introductory remarks and ended the day with reflections on what was heard.

MMR Vaccines

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health from which countries United Kingdom registered companies that provide MMR vaccines to the NHS source their products.

Caroline Flint: Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines are supplied to the national health service by GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi Pasteur MSD. GlaxoSmithKline's MMR vaccine is manufactured in Belgium. Sanofi Pasteur MSD manufactured their MMR vaccine in the United States of America and the Netherlands.

NHS Dentistry

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department spent per capita on NHS dentistry in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The estimated spend per capita on the general dental service (GDS) in Jarrow constituency in the year ending 31 March 2001 was 23.38. Figures for other years are not available because population estimates for other years are not available.
	Estimates of spend per capita on the GDS in South Tyneside, the North East Government office region (GOR), Northumberland, Tyne and Wear strategic health authority (SHA) and in England for the years ending as at 31 March for 1998 to 2004 are shown in the table.
	These estimates do not include expenditure on national health service dental services for pilot personal dental services agreements or the community (salaried) dental service.
	
		Estimated spend per capita on GDS dentistry in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear SHA area, North East GOR and England as at year end 31 March for each year -- 
		
			  South Tyneside local authority area Northumberland, Tyne and Wear SHA North East GOR England 
		
		
			 1998 22.18 18.98 19.31 18.07 
			 1999 23.85 20.28 20.58 19.00 
			 2000 25.15 20.88 21.26 19.54 
			 2001 26.99 21.38 22.00 20.23 
			 2002 27.26 23.22 23.84 21.66 
			 2003 28.21 24.25 24.64 22.19 
			 2004 28.76 25.46 26.09 23.42 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures have been provided by the NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre. The data sources are the Dental Practice Board and the Office of National Statistics.
	2. South Tyneside local authority area includes Jarrow and South Shields constituency areas.
	3. Spend per capita was calculated by taking the total fees plus commitment payments less revenue from patient charges divided by the population.

NHS Dentistry

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department has spent per capita on NHS dentistry in (a) the Tamworth constituency, (b) Staffordshire, (c) the West Midlands and (d) England in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The estimated spend per capita on the general dental service (GDS) in Tamworth constituency in the year ending 31 March 2001 was 11.83. Figures for other years are not available because population estimates for other years are not available.
	Estimates of spend per capita on the GDS in Staffordshire, the West Midlands Government office region (GOR), Shropshire and Staffordshire strategic health authority (SHA) and in England for the years ending as at 31 March for 1998 to 2004 are shown in the table.
	These estimates do not include expenditure on national health service dental services for pilot personal dental services agreements or the community (salaried) dental service.
	
		Estimated spend per capita on GDS dentistry in Shropshire and Staffordshire SHA area, West Midlands GOR and England as at year end 31 March for each year -- 
		
			  Staffordshire local authority area Shropshire and Staffordshire SHA West Midlands GOR England 
		
		
			 1998 14.44 13.72 16.66 18.07 
			 1999 14.99 14.24 17.64 19.00 
			 2000 15.39 14.71 18.35 19.54 
			 2001 15.93 15.36 18.86 20.23 
			 2002 16.52 16.58 20.37 21.66 
			 2003 16.89 16.99 21.31 22.19 
			 2004 17.41 17.87 22.86 23.42 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures have been provided by the NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre. The data source is the Dental Practice Board and the Office of National Statistics.
	2. Staffordshire local authority area includes Burton, Cannock Chase, Lichfield, Newcastle-under-Lyme, South Staffordshire, Stafford, Staffordshire Moorlands, Stoke-on-Trent North, Stone and Tamworth constituency areas.
	3. Spend per capita was calculated by taking the total fees plus commitment payments less revenue from patient charges divided by population.

NHS Dentistry

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists have been practising in the Gravesham constituency in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The number of dentists in the Gravesham parliamentary constituency area as at 30 September each year are shown in the table.
	
		General dental services and personal dental services dentists practising in Gravesham, 1997 to 2005
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 40 
			 1998 40 
			 1999 36 
			 2000 35 
			 2001 32 
			 2002 31 
			 2003 35 
			 2004 34 
			 2005 41 
		
	
	Source:
	National Health Service Health and Social Care Information Centre.

NHS Dentistry

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2005, Official Report, column 1139W, on dentistry, how many NHS dentists were in place in each of the primary care trusts covering (a) the Isle of Wight, (b) Milton Keynes, (c) South West Devon, (d) Torbay, (e) Plymouth, Devonport, (f) Teignbridge, (g) Romsey, (h) West Hampshire, (i) Broxbourne and (j) Hitchin and Harpenden constituency at the most recent date for which information is available; and what proportion of the resident (i) under 18 and (ii) over 18 years population was known to be registered with an NHS dentist at the most recent date for which information is available in each case.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 8 November 2005
	The information requested on the number of dentists in the primary care trusts (PCTs), broken down by geographical area, as at September 2005, is shown in table 1.
	Information on the number of patients under and over the age of 18 registered with a national health service dentist, as at September 2005, is shown in table 2.
	
		Table 1:General dental services (CDS) and personal dental services (PDS): number of dentists in the specified geographical areas as at 30 September 2005
		
			  PCT Number 
		
		
			 5CQ Milton Keynes PCT 116 
			 5CV South Hams and West Devon PCT 49 
			 5CW Torbay PCT 74 
			 5DG Isle of Wight PCT 56 
			 5F1 Plymouth Teaching PCT 126 
			 5GG Welwyn Hatfield PCT 68 
			 5GH North Hertfordshire and Stevenage PCT 97 
			 5GJ South East Hertfordshire PCT 99 
			 5GX St. Albans and Harpenden PCT 97 
			 5FY Teignbridge PCT 54 
			 5LY Eastleigh and Test Valley South PCT 88 
			 5DF North Hampshire PCT 96 
			  Hitchin and Harpenden Parliamentary  constituency 63 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The dentists include principals, assistants and trainees. Prison contracts are excluded from the data.
	2. The postcode of the dental practice was used to allocate dentists to specific geographical areas. Parliamentary constituency and PCT areas have been defined using the Office for National Statistics all fields postcode directory.
	
		Table 2: NHS dentistry registrations and estimated registrations rate in specific geographical areas, by adult and child, as at 30 September 2005
		
			   CDS and PDS registration(15) Estimated registration rates(16) (percentage) 
			   Adult Child All Adult Child All 
		
		
			 5CQ Milton Keynes 58,983 31,976 90,959 36 59 41 
			 5CV South Hams and West Devon 18,625 13,290 31,915 21 57 29 
			 5CW Torbay 41,496 16,078 57,574 40 61 44 
			 5DG Isle of Wight 24,432 13,888 38,320 22 51 28 
			 5Fl Plymouth 89,943 42,343 132,286 47 81 55 
			 5GG Welwyn Hatfield 35,215 14,792 50,007 46 68 51 
			 5GH North Hertfordshire and Stevenage 67,121 30,146 97,267 48 71 54 
			 5GJ South East Hertfordshire 66,915 25,425 92,340 53 68 56 
			 5GX St. Albans and Harpenden 53,004 23,314 76,318 52 77 58 
			 5FY Teignbridge 28,712 11,468 40,180 34 52 38 
			 SLY Eastleigh and Test Valley South 48,148 24,341 72,489 39 65 45 
			 5DF North Hampshire 48,570 26,994 75,564 30 55 36 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Registration data include personal dental service counts of patients seen in the past 15 months as a proxy for registrations for some schemes. This is to give greater consistency with registrations data for the GDS, which has a 15 month re-registration period. Many PDS schemes use longer periods and some, such as dental access centres, do not require patients to register.
	2. Registration rates (the percentage of the population registered with a dentist) have been estimated by including registrations in the area of the dentist, that is according to the postcode of the dental surgery and not the patient's address. So the registration rates for some areas may be affected by some patients receiving dental treatment in a different area from the one in which they live. The figures were calculated using population estimates for the primary care trust areas for the nearest year for which data is available.
	Source:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre.

NHS Dentistry

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists there were per 1,000 people in (a) Oxfordshire and (b) Wantage constituency in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2005.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested on the number of dentists in Oxfordshire and Wantage is shown in the following table.
	
		General dental services and personal dental services: numbers of dentists and dentists per 1,000 population
		
			  Number of dentists Number of dentists per 1,000 population 
			  1997 2005 1997 2005(15) 
		
		
			 Oxfordshire County 221 343 0.4 0.6 
			 Wantage parliamentary  constituency 31 50 (16)n/a (16)n/a 
		
	
	(15) 2005 data has been calculated on 2004 population data, as this is the latest available.
	(16) Population data at parliamentary constituency area is not available.

NHS Dentistry

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many dentists serve the Shropshire Primary Care Trust;
	(2)  how many dentists in Shrewsbury and Atcham constituency (a) operate fully within the NHS and (b) only offer NHS treatment for children.

Rosie Winterton: As at 30 September 2005, there were 153 national health service dentists with a general dental services (GDS) or personal dental services (PDS) contract within Shropshire County Primary Care Trust (PCT).
	As at 30 September 2005, there were 80 NHS dentists with either a GDS or PDS contract within Shrewsbury and Atcham parliamentary constituency.
	The data source is the Dental Practice Board. A dentist with a GDS or PDS contract may provide as little or as much NHS treatment as he or she chooses or has agreed with the relevant PCT. The Dental Practice Board has no information concerning the amount of time dedicated to private or NHS work by individual dentists.
	Information about who dentists offer to treat is not collected centrally. However, an analysis of NHS patient registrations data as at 1 June 2005 shows that within Shropshire County PCT there were six dentists having only children registered. This analysis is not available at parliamentary constituency area.

NHS Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budgets for (a) recurrent operating costs, excluding capital charges but including income from other sources, and (b) all operating costs, including both revenue and capital, of the (i) Health Protection Agency, (ii) National Radiological Protection Board and (iii) Public Health Laboratory Service have been in each year since 199798 in (A) nominal and (B) real terms.

Caroline Flint: The published accounts of each body give details of its operating costs, including revenue and capital, as well as income from other sources. The relevant accounts, which are available in the Library, are as follows:
	Health Protection Agency (special health authority) 200304, 200405.
	Public Health Laboratory Service: 199798, 199899, 19992000, 200001, 200102, 200203, 200304. The 200405 accounts will be available shortly.
	National Radiological Protection Board: 199798, 199899, 19992000, 200001, 200102, 200203, 200304, 200405.
	Expressing the data in real terms would be likely to be misleading, owing to changes in functions over the extended periods involved.

NHS Services

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the 250 million efficiency savings planned for the NHS will be re-directed to front-line services; what proportion will be allocated to Gloucestershire; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The 250 million savings in management and administration costs will be re-directed in total to front-line services. The required savings have been apportioned over the 28 strategic health authorities (SHAs). The total apportioned required savings for the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA is 10 million. It is for each SHA to determine with its primary care trust (PCT) how the required savings should be apportioned over the SHA and each PCT in the area and this will depend on the configuration of the SHA and PCTs which is subject to public consultation over the coming weeks.

Parliamentary Question

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will answer the question on Clostridium difficile, reference 9380, tabled by the hon. Member for Northavon on 29 June.

Jane Kennedy: I replied to the hon. Member on 17 October 2005, Official Report, column 763W.

Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if she will delay the standard branded generics review until the completion of the Office of Fair Trading market study into the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme;
	(2)  when a decision is expected on the current standard branded generics; and whether the Office of Fair Trading inquiry into the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme has an impact on its outcome;
	(3)  what discussions she has had with the Office of Fair Trading regarding its inquiry into the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme;
	(4)  whether standard branded generics are covered by the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 7 November 2005
	Standard branded generics are covered by the provisions of the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme (PPRS), subject to the outcome of a public consultation on proposals to transfer them to arrangements for the reimbursement for generic medicines. The Department is currently reviewing the responses to proposals that a specified list of oral solid dose standard branded generics should be removed from the PPRS. These responses require, and will be given, careful consideration. The Department will not rush to a conclusion or set any deadline that may constrain its deliberations.
	Departmental officials have held preliminary discussions with the Office of Fair Trading on its market study into the PPRS.

Primary Care Trusts (Oxfordshire)

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  who will be responsible for the drafting of contracts between the Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority and private sector providers of management services for the Primary Care Trust in Oxfordshire; who will take responsibility for ensuring that such contracts comply with existing NHS rules on consultation and patient and public involvement; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions she has had with the (a) chairman and (b) chief executive of the Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority on proposals to transfer the management of primary care trusts in Oxfordshire to the private sector; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  under what statutory provision the Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority will appoint a board of non-executive directors to the Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust to oversee the awarding of a contract for the procurement of the management of primary care trust services in Oxfordshire;
	(4)  whether contracts for the commissioning of the management of primary care trust services in Oxfordshire will be (a) available for public scrutiny and (b) treated as commercial in confidence.
	(5)  what discussions her Department has had with the Royal College of Nursing on putting the management of the proposed new Oxfordshire primary care trust out to tender to the private sector.

Rosie Winterton: No decision has yet been taken on the possibility of any strategic health authority (SHA) tendering for the private sector provision of management services for future primary care trusts (PCTs). Accordingly, no moves to facilitate this option, such as creating frameworks for drawing up tendering contracts or appointing non-executive directors have been taken, either.
	SHAs, not the Department, are to lead discussions locally with stakeholder groups regarding options for the reconfiguration of PCTs, as they can give greater consideration to local contexts and nuances when developing proposals. As such, no discussions have been held with either the Royal College of Nursing or the chair and chief executive of Thames Valley SHA on the content of their proposals. All proposals will shortly be assessed by an independent panel representing a wide range of stakeholders, against the criteria identified in the document, Commissioning a Patient-Led NHS. If proposals are adjudged to have met these criteria, they will be subject to a full, three month public consultation. Decisions on the suitability of any proposal will not be taken until this process has been completed.

Public Opinion Surveys

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many public opinion surveys were conducted by her Department and its arm's length bodies in the last six months; what the (a) subject matter, (b) date, (c) cost and (d) company used to conduct the research was in each case; and if she will place copies of the results of each survey in the Library.

Jane Kennedy: The Department commissions public opinion surveys on various subjects when this is the most effective and appropriate means of building up an evidence base on which to take policy development forward. The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department does not monitor the number, cost or subject matter of public opinion surveys commissioned by its arm's length bodies.

Rehabilitation (Milton Keynes)

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average number of specialist rehabilitation beds per 1,000 people in North East Milton Keynes in the latest year for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: Information about the number of specialist rehabilitation beds is not collected or held centrally by the Department. All data relating to bed provision which are collected by the Department are shown on its website at:
	www.performance.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity/data_requests/beds_open_overnight.htm

SARS

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with Havering council regarding contingency plans in the event of a SARS or tuberculosis epidemic in that area.

Jane Kennedy: The Department has not had any direct contact with Havering council to discuss contingency plans for an epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or tuberculosis (TB).
	The Department's emergency preparedness division has regular liaisons and discussions with the strategic health authorities' (SHAs) emergency planning leads. The SHAs have responsibility for ensuring that all national health service trusts have major incident plans in place and are prepared to deal with a range of incidents that include SARS and other infectious diseases. These plans are developed with multi-agency input and are regularly tested and reviewed.
	With regard to TB, the Chief Medical Officer launched the TB action plan in October 2004. The plan is a commitment to tackle rising rates of TB through 10 key areas of work, and identifies some of the underlying reasons for the rise in TB rates. This is a national plan for England and local TB services are expected to develop their own plans reflecting local conditions.
	Local TB outbreaks are managed in accordance with standard procedures by local health protection units, which are part of the Health Protection Agency. In the event of a TB outbreak, the local consultant in communicable disease control would trace contacts of people who had significant exposure to someone with TB. Those contacts would be screened for disease and treated as appropriate.
	The plan is available on the Department's website at
	www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/PublicationsPolicyAnd GuidanceArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4090417chk= DsgbSP
	SARS is not currently regarded as being a world-wide problem. The last cases were in China in 2004. However, the possibility of SARS re-emerging remains and there is a need for continuing vigilance. Clinicians and other healthcare professionals have been asked to remain vigilant to the possibility of SARS, even though the threat to the United Kingdom remains low at this time.
	Information on SARS and guidance documents are available on the Health Protection Agency's website at
	www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/SARS/menu.htm
	and also on the Department's website at
	www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAndSocialCare Topics/SevereAcuteRespiratorySyndrome/SARSGeneral Information/fs/en

Smoking

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence was used to inform paragraph 45 of the individual regulatory impact assessment on the smoke free aspects of the Health Bill, presented on 27 October 2005, with particular reference to the statement that the Department does not consider these measures will disadvantage any group; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The assessment in the Equity and Fairness including race equality assessment section of the partial regulatory impact assessment reflects issues raised during the development of choosing health. The particular issue of hookah pipes has been highlighted in response to concerns raised previously. Any additional evidence brought forward will be included in informing the final regulatory impact assessment.

Staff Dismissals

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff employed in her Department in (a) 200304, (b) 200405 and (c) in the six months to 30 September have been dismissed, or have had their employment contract otherwise terminated, for failure to perform to the standard expected; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The numbers of staff who have been dismissed by the Department through either reasons of inefficiency or discipline are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Year dismissed Total 
		
		
			 April 2003 to March 2004 5 
			 April 2004 to March 2005 2 
			 April 2005 to September 2005 1 
			 Grand total 8

Sun Beds

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what regulations apply to the operation of (a) sun bed tanning retail outlets with staff and (b) coin-operated outlets with no staff; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what guidance is given to local authorities on the operation of sun tanning beds in council-owned leisure and sports centres.

Caroline Flint: There are no specific regulations that apply to sun bed establishments with or without staff. The Health and Safety Executive however issued guidelines in 1995 on the use of sun beds for both operators and customers, including those operated in facilities owned by local authorities. The guidance was developed in consultation with the Department and leading experts. Cancer Research UK is in discussions with the sun bed industry to review industry practices and self-regulation. This involves improving information for both staff and customers, including the displaying of information about the use of sun beds and their risks to health.

Swale Primary Care Trust

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Kent and Medway strategic health authority was first informed of the deficit at Swale primary care trust; what action it took; and how many meetings it has since held of non-executive directors of the board to discuss the matter.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 3 November 2005
	Kent and Medway strategic health authority (SHA) was aware toward the end of financial year 200405 that Swale primary care trust (PCT) had underlying financial problems. The PCT reported an audited year-end position of 0.45 million overspent.
	The SHA therefore required the PCT to develop a robust financial recovery plan to deliver financial balance this year (200506).
	Delivery of the financial recovery plan has been monitored and performance managed through formal monthly performance meetings, and through individual meetings between officers of the SHA and the PCT, including the direct engagement of the SHA's chief executive. Meetings have also taken place between the SHA's chair and both the current and former chairs of Swale PCT.
	This is a local matter. Responsibility for decisions about funding and the provision of local health services now rest with PCTs. It is for PCTs, in conjunction with SHAs to plan and develop services according to the needs of local people.
	National health service bodies must live within their means. It is the responsibility of SHAs to deliver both overall financial balance for their local health communities and to ensure each and every body achieves financial balance.

Uterine Fibroids

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has conducted into the long-term economic and social effects of minimally invasive technologies for the treatment of uterine fibroids.

Jane Kennedy: None.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Avian Influenza

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the UK Government has spent on preventing Avian influenza being brought into the UK in each year from 1998 to 2005.

Ben Bradshaw: There is no dedicated funding spent on preventing Avian influenza from entering the UK. Guarding against Avian influenza is part of a wider disease prevention programme (including border controls and quarantine procedures). To enhance emergency preparedness against Avian influenza, Defra is planning to spend over 6 million in 200506.

Avian Influenza

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance her Department has issued to the public concerning (a) the Government's policy on Avian influenza, (b) the length of the ban on poultry at markets, shows and fairs determined by Decision 2005/745/EC, (c) the provisions under which the ban as determined by Decision 2005/745/EC can be (i) renewed and (ii) revoked, (d) which species of birds are affected, (e) the circumstances under which events such as market, shows and fairs can proceed subject to a veterinary risk assessment and (f) the details of how a veterinary risk assessment can be obtained; for what reasons this information is not available on her Department's website; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) The Department has distributed guidance materials on Avian influenza to our partners in the industryincluding the British Poultry Council, the British Egg Industry Council and the National Farmers Unionwho are helping to distribute this material to their members, who cover the majority of birds. A simple one-page leaflet on biosecurity and surveillance for smaller concerns and back yard keepers has also been produced and is being distributed widely including to all veterinary practices and placed in trade and specialist press targeting the same audience. All this information is available on my Department's website and I am placing copies in the Library of the House.
	(b) Commission Decision 2005/734 amended by 2005/745 prevent the gathering of birds and is in place until 30 November, but in view of the current disease situation is likely to be rolled forward. These decisions are implemented in the UK by The Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) Regulations 2005 and is not time limited.
	(c) The Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) together with member states will consider whether the decision should be reviewed or revoked based on their assessment of the veterinary risk.
	(d) The legislation covers all species of birds.
	(e) The Department, on veterinary advice, has carried out a preliminary risk assessment which takes a precautionary approach to the risk of transmission of highly pathogenic Avian influenza attached to gatherings of birds. This has shown that gathering of specified types of birds may be permitted under certain conditions.
	At present low risk gatherings can be licensed. This means the gathering can only consist of budgerigars, canaries, zebra finches, Bengalese finches and birds classed by fanciers as British birds (i.e. captive bred birds of species native to the British Isles, not including pigeons, poultry and waterfowl). The show organiser must agree to meet a number of conditions such as record keeping and biosecurity measures before a licence is granted. Sales from licensed gatherings are not permitted.
	Gatherings of other birds including poultry, waterfowl, pigeons and exotic species are considered to be higher risk. Conditions under which shows of higher risk birds might be permitted to take place are still under consideration. Such gatherings will not be licensed until we are confident that they can take place without undue risk.
	(f) Information about how to apply for a licence is available from local Animal Health Divisional Offices and comprehensive guidance has been available on the Defra website since the beginning of November.

Avian Influenza

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will introduce further control on the importation of wild birds as pets.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 24 October 2005
	On 28 October, the EU introduced an extensive ban on imports into the Community of captive birds, along with new restrictions on the importation of pet birds. UK import rules have been amended to reflect this. In line with EU-wide measures, we had previously banned imports of all live birds and products from countries with the H5N1 strain of avian influenza.

Bird Markets

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Government had plans to ban bird markets, fairs and shows prior to the European Commission decision.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government had discussed with stakeholders, and placed on the Defra website, an analysis of the possible precautionary measures that could be adopted, but there were no plans to ban bird markets, fairs and shows prior to the European Commission decision.

Cars (Air Conditioning)

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the effects of the use of air conditioning on the (a) fuel efficiency and (b) carbon dioxide emissions of cars.

Elliot Morley: The 2002 report by TNO Automotive for the European Commission, Options to integrate the use of mobile air conditioning systems and auxiliary heaters into the emission type approval test and the fuel consumption test for passenger cars found that in Northern Europe an average car fitted with an air conditioner consumed an extra 0.21 litres per 100 kilometres. This corresponds to an additional fuel requirement of about 3 per cent. on average fuel consumption for a new car sold today. Carbon dioxide emissions are almost directly proportional to fuel consumption implying that the average vehicle would see a carbon dioxide penalty of about 5g/km over its lifetime.

Circus Animals

Stephen Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will introduce legislation to ban the use of animals in circuses.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 10 November 2005
	There are no plans to ban the use of animals in circuses in the absence of evidence that it is not possible to meet their welfare needs in a circus environment. However, the introduction of a welfare offence under the Animal Welfare Bill will require the person responsible for an animal to take reasonable steps to ensure its welfare. In addition we propose to overhaul the existing legislation in relation to performing animals. We consider that our proposed changes will lead to significant improvements in the welfare of animals used in circuses.

Emissions Trading Scheme

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the progress being made towards the inclusion of aviation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, with particular reference to (a) the date this is likely to occur and (b) the emissions ceiling to be applied.

Elliot Morley: The European Commission adopted a Communication on reducing the climate change impact of aviation, favouring the inclusion of the climate impact of aviation into the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). They aim to bring forward a legislative proposal by the end of 2006. This is a key step in progressing work on this agenda and we have made this a priority for the UK Presidency of the EU. Our aim is to reach a consensus on the way forward at the December Environment Council.
	An emissions ceiling or cap like other scheme details will be subject to negotiation with other member states. The Commission have set up an Aviation Working Group under the European Climate Change Programme, which will begin to consider the cap and allocation methodology at its meeting on 17 February.

Energy Efficiency

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library copies of papers distributed at the conference jointly held in London with the European Commission on 2 November entitled Europe and an Energy Efficient World: Acting and Learning Together; what assessment she has made of the benefits which will accrue to companies in (a) Wales and (b) Blaenau Gwent from the new initiatives proposed; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Conference proceedings are being collated in time for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 11 and COP/MOP1) in Montreal, which commences on 28 November. I have asked for copies to be placed in the Library. All papers will be placed on the conference website: http://olive360.com/defra/energyefficiency together with the many case studies that participants have forwarded to us.
	The purpose of the conference was to bring together representatives from a wide range of countries and with a wide range of backgrounds in energy efficiency and to learn from the richness of their experiences. The conference considered policy issues surrounding the promotion of energy services, better products standards and labelling and how better to engage with and involve citizens in energy efficiency. Summary papers of the discussions will be used to inform several activities.
	It will inform debate on the European Commission's Green Paper on Energy Efficiency; the development of the EU Action Plan on Energy Efficiency and the wider EU framework of legislation and programmes, including RD into energy efficiency, which will have a direct impact on UK energy efficiency policy and hence potentially on individual firms and businesses. No assessment has been made of the specific benefits to companies in Wales or Blaenau Gwent.
	It will inform the UK's preparations for the UN Commission on Sustainable Development's review of the energy commitments in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation in 200607.
	Furthermore, members of the Task Force on Sustainable Products under the UNEP Framework Programme on Sustainable Consumption and Production were present at the conference and used the debate on international product policy to inform their meeting held on 4 November in London.
	We will use the conclusions in our discussions on practical measures to support our G8 commitments to increase efforts on energy efficiency domestically and across the world. We will also ensure that the conference proceedings are circulated to G8 colleagues, in recognition of the importance of energy efficiency in the Gleneagles Plan of Action.

Environmental Noises

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when Directive 2002/49/EC on assessment and management of environmental noises will be transposed into UK law.

Ben Bradshaw: Following public consultation earlier on in the year, the adoption of regulations for the transposition of the environmental noise directive (2002/49/EC) in England is currently being finalised. A draft of the regulations is currently being sent out to environmental noise specialists for a short, technical consultation. This was considered a useful further step to take in light of the very technical nature of the subject matter. Following the conclusion of the second consultation around the end of November, the draft regulations will be finalised and then laid before Parliament. The Government are working towards an adoption date of the end of this year/beginning of next.

Greenhouse Gasses

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the level of greenhouse gas emissions generated by the powering of street lights in 200405.

Elliot Morley: The 2005 Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES) indicates that electricity consumption by public lighting was 1,991 Gigawatt-hours in 2004. This implies that street lighting was responsible for emissions of about 0.3 million tonnes of carbon in 2004.

Warm Front Scheme (Milton Keynes)

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many residents in the North-East Milton Keynes constituency were (a) eligible for and (b) received grants under the Warm Front Scheme in each of the last five years.

Elliot Morley: Information on the exact number of residents in North-East Milton Keynes eligible for Warm Front is not available. However, on the basis of the statistical modelling used by the Warm Front Scheme Manager it is estimated that around 4,800 households in North-East Milton Keynes could currently be eligible for assistance from the Scheme.
	Between the launch of the Warm Front Scheme in June 2000 and the end of March 2005, the number of households assisted in each year in Nort-East Milton Keynes are as follows:
	
		
			  Households assisted 
		
		
			 200001 155 
			 200102 210 
			 200203 170 
			 200304 206 
			 200405 119 
			 Total 860

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

0870 Numbers

Vincent Cable: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the occasions in the last five years on which 0870 telephone numbers have been used by his Department as contact numbers for members of the public; and how much revenue was received from the use of 0870 contact numbers in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Over the last five years, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not used any 0870 telephone numbers as contact numbers for members of the public.

Energy Efficiency

David Chaytor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of current building stock in England meets the thermal insulation standards established by part J of the building regulations; what steps are being taken to increase this proportion; and when he estimates the building stock will meet fully the new building standards.

Yvette Cooper: Part L applies whenever buildings are constructed, altered, extended or subjected to a material change of use. A further improvement in standards will come into effect next April. We estimate that around 2 to 4 per cent. of existing dwellings meet current (2002) part L insulation standards.
	Separately, the Warm Front and Decent Homes programmes and the Energy Efficiency Commitment are increasing standards for existing homes. We are also undertaking a further review to consider how best to improve the sustainability of existing dwellings.
	For buildings other than dwellings, around 4 per cent. of the total floor area meets current insulation standards, with up to a further 4 per cent. being upgraded each year. It is not economic or practical to improve all buildings to new building standards.

Fire Precautions Regulations

John McDonnell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment has been made of the financial effects on the Transport industry of the revocation of the Fire Precautions (Sub-Surface Railway Stations) Regulations 1989.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The potential costs and benefits to businesses of operating under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 were published in the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) when the Order was laid before Parliament in May 2004. The analysis within the RIA analysis did not discuss the impact on particular business sectors. Copies of this document have been made available in the Library of the House.

Home Information Packs

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of whether larger or older homes are likely to incur higher costs in producing a home information pack than small or recently built houses; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Most of the documents required in the pack will not cost any more for a larger or older property than they would for a smaller or recently built house. For example, evidence of title and copies of warranties will be unaffected by the age or size of the property.
	Searches are charged at a rate set by the local authority, irrespective of the size or location of the house. Consumers will, however, be able to have searches undertaken by a private search company which will charge at a market rate.
	The cost of the Home Condition Report (HCR) will be determined by the market and will vary depending on the size and possibly the location and type of property.

Housing

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average weekly rent was for a new two-bed letting in a registered social landlord property in 2005.

Yvette Cooper: The average weekly rent, excluding service charges, for RSL lettings for two bedroom registered social landlord properties in the first six months of 2005 was 64.48. Information on rents charged by registered social landlords on new lettings is available from the Continuous REcording (CORE) of new lettings of the housing corporation.
	Information on the average weekly rent, excluding service charges, for RSL lettings for two bedrooms at 31 March 2005 is for those dwellings for which a size breakdown is available was 61.13. This information is based on data collected by the housing corporation via the annual regulatory and statistical return.

Housing

Paul Burstow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) short-term and (b) long-term empty properties there were in (i) England, (ii) each region and (iii) each London borough in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The available information has been placed in the Library of the House. Long TermVacant (LTV) dwellings are those that have been vacant for over six months.
	The figures are based on two sources. The first is the council tax band 1 (CTB1) return data for the years from 2002 onwards. Council tax data collected before this year are considered unreliable. So from 2001 back to 1997, the combined data from the following two sources are used: local authorities' housing strategy statistical appendix (HSSA) returns for empty council and private sector dwellings; and housing corporation's regulatory statistical return (RSR) for empty registered social landlords (RSLs) properties. Since RSLs did not collect LTV data until 2005, only total vacant dwelling figures are available from this combined source. Therefore separate answers for (a) and (b) are not possible for 1997 to 2001.

Housing

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to provide affordable housing in (a) Huddersfield, (b) Yorkshire and (c) England.

Yvette Cooper: 'Sustainable Communities: Homes for All' sets out the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's plans to deliver more affordable housing over the next five years. Measures include assisting around 100,000 first time buyers and key workers nationally to achieve their home ownership aspirations and, through investment and efficiency savings, to deliver 75,000 social rented homes by 2008. Future delivery of social housing after 200708 will be dependent on the outcome of the Spending Review 2007.
	The 200305 Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Housing Strategy identified the provision of affordable housing in high demand areas as one of its priorities. Through the Regional Housing Board's 200406 investment programme over 57 million is being invested in affordable housing in West Yorkshire and 6.7 million in Kirklees. Of this, around 3.9 million has been invested in affordable housing schemes in Huddersfield and 104 affordable homes are being provided.
	The provision of affordable housing in high demand areas remains a priority in the 2005 Regional Housing Strategy. The Housing Corporation are currently working with sub-regional partnerships and local authorities to put together an affordable housing programme for 200608, which will lead to between 41 million and 45 million being invested in new affordable homes in West Yorkshire.
	The Regional Housing Strategy also sets out other options for local authorities and their partners to consider in order to provide affordable homes, such as alternative sources of funding and capacity through the planning system. We have approved a PFI (Private Finance Initiative) scheme in Kirklees which is intended to provide 550 affordable housing units up to 2010. There will be 400 units for small households and 150 units for people requiring extra care housing. Kirklees council are also delivering around 100 affordable units a year through the planning system and section 106 agreements.

Housing

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what process the Government plan to adopt in relation to the procedure for an owner reclaiming property seized by a local authority under an empty dwelling management order.

Yvette Cooper: Provisions in the Housing Act 2004 provide that an Empty Dwelling Management Order may be revoked before the order is due to cease either on the initiative of a local authority, or on application to the authority by a relevant person, provided the authority:
	(a) conclude there are no steps they could appropriately take to secure occupation of the dwelling;
	(b) is satisfied the dwelling will either become or continue to be occupied following revocation;
	(c) is satisfied the dwelling is to be sold;
	(d) a final or further final Empty Dwelling Management Order is to be made;
	(e) conclude that revocation would be appropriate to prevent or stop interference with the rights of a third party;
	(f) consider there are other circumstances for revoking the order.
	If the dwelling is occupied at the time the revocation is proposed, the order may only be revoked with the consent of the relevant proprietor. A local authority may make revocation subject to payment of any expenditure properly incurred that has not already been recouped from rental income. A relevant person may appeal to a residential property tribunal against a decision of a local authority to revoke or refuse to revoke an Empty Dwelling Management Order.

Housing

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many vacant homes there are in West Lancashire; and for what average period houses were vacant in each of the last three years.

Yvette Cooper: There were 1,386 empty homes in West Lancashire as at November 2004, the latest date for which figures are available. The data are as reported on CTB1 and CTB1S forms submitted by billing authorities to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister each year. The figure includes both long and short-term empty properties.
	Details of the average period for which houses were vacant are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Housing

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many affordable housing units expected to be built or procured through the Housing Corporation Approved Development Programme were (a) mixed funded social rented housing, (b) temporary social rented housing, (c) homebuy general market purchase, (d) homebuy general new build, (e) mixed funded low cost home ownership for sale, (f) miscellaneous works to registered social landlord (RSL) stock, (g) reimprovements to rented RSL stock, (h) works-only rehabilitation of rented RSL stock, (i) works-only rehabilitation of RSL stock for sale, (j) intermediate rent for key workers, (k) homebuy market purchase for key workers, (l) homebuy new build for key workers, (m) mixed funded sale for key workers, (n) right to acquire, (o) voluntary purchase grant, (p) starter home initiative, (q) do-it-yourself shared ownership and (r) temporary intermediate and market rent housing in the South West Region in (i) 200506, (ii) 200607 and (iii) 200708; and how much was spent on each category in each year.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 7 November 2005
	The tables show the latest estimated completions and expenditure in the South West region for 200506 through the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme for categories from (a) to (r). Funding and completions are not directly comparable, as funding will relate to projects running, not necessarily units completed, in any one year.
	
		Estimated completions for South West Region in 200506
		
			   Units 
		
		
			 (a) Mixed Funded Social Rent 2,163 
			 (b) Temporary Social Rent 20 
			 (c) Homebuy Market Purchase 248 
			 (d) Homebuy New Build 17 
			 (e) Mixed Funded for Sale 737 
			 (f) Misc works to RSL stock 408 
			 (g) Reimprovements to RSL rented stock 21 
			 (h) Works only rehabilitation of RSL rented stock 35 
			 (i) Works only rehabilitation of RSL stock for Sale 0 
			 (j) Intermediate rent for Key Workers 0 
			 (k) Homebuy Market Purchase for Key Workers 0 
			 (1) Homebuy New Build for Key Workers 0 
			 (m) Mixed Funded for Sale for Key Workers 0 
			 (n) Right to Acquire 7 
			 (o) Voluntary Purchase Grant 14 
			 (p) Starter Home Initiative 0 
			 (q) Do-it-yourself-shared Ownership 0 
			 (r) Temporary intermediate and Market rent  housing 0 
		
	
	
		Estimated expenditure in South West Region for 200506
		
			million 
		
		
			 (a) Mixed Funded Social Rent 68.106 
			 (b) Temporary Social Rent 0.463 
			 (c) Homebuy Market Purchase 8.615 
			 (d) Homebuy New Build 0.261 
			 (e) Mixed Funded for Sale 10.785 
			 (f) Misc works to RSL stock 1.957 
			 (g) Reimprovements to RSL rented stock 0.995 
			 (h) Works only rehabilitation of RSL rented stock 0.300 
			 (i) Works only rehabilitation of RSL stock for Sale 0.205 
			 (j) Intermediate rent for Key Workers 0.000 
			 (k) Homebuy Market Purchase for Key Workers 0.000 
			 (1) Homebuy New Build for Key Workers 0.000 
			 (m) Mixed Funded for Sale for Key Workers 0.000 
			 (n) Right to Acquire 0.082 
			 (o) Voluntary Purchase Grant 0.151 
			 (p) Starter Home Initiative 0.000 
			 (q) Do-it-yourself-shared Ownership 0.000 
			 (r) Temporary intermediate and Market rent  housing 0.000 
		
	
	Note:
	Categories (f), (g), (h), and (i) are not counted as completions and figures are only provided for illustrative purposes. The Key Worker Living Scheme does not include the South West region.
	Source:
	Housing Corporation Information Management System as at 12 October 2005.
	For 200607 and 200708 Regional Housing Boards have made recommendations to Ministers for the allocation of Regional Housing Pots funds. The South West Regional Housing Board has recommended that from their allocation of 361 million for the two years a total of 281 million should be allocated to the provision of affordable housing. However, the exact distribution of funding between programmes for 200608 will not be known until the completion of the Housing Corporation's bidding process.
	In August 2005 the Housing Corporation launched the bidding round for the 200608 Affordable Housing Programme (AHP). This invited both registered social landlords and non-registered bodies to apply for funds to develop affordable housing based on priorities set by the Regional Housing Boards. The outcome of this bidding round will not be known until early in 2006.

Local Government

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  whether councils graded (a) excellent and (b) good under the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) are subject to (i) future CPA inspections and (ii) inspections from inspectorates other than the Audit Commission; and whether they are required to submit best value performance (A) information and (B) plans;
	(2)  if he will list the freedoms that local authorities graded (a) excellent and (b) good under the Comprehensive Performance Assessment received in relation to local government inspection.

Phil Woolas: All councils are and will continue to be subject to inspection. Key targets for reductions in the inspection of local authorities were set out in the November 2002 announcement on Freedoms and Flexibilities. These include an exemption from virtually all inspection for councils in the excellent CPA category and a 25 per cent. reduction for councils in the good category.
	Overall, significant reductions have been secured in the inspection burden placed on English single tier and county councils, with the greatest reductions focussed on excellent and good councils.
	Between 200102 and 200405 the number of days inspectors from the Audit Commission, Ofsted, Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) spent in councils had reduced by over one third and the number of inspections undertaken had reduced by more than 50 per cent.
	The Audit Commission, which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) sponsors, anticipates that by 200607, the volume of inspections needed for CPA, including the corporate assessments planned for that year, should fall by 68 per cent. from the 200203 level. Excellent councils will only be subject to inspection where there are grounds for serious concern in a particular service, and good councils will continue to receive a significant reduction in inspection.
	In accordance with ODPM Circular 02/2004, authorities categorised in CPA as excellent and good only need to provide the minimum essential information for Government to monitor performance, namely:
	outturn data for Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPIs);
	targets for BVPIs in the current year and subsequent 2 years; and
	confirmation that they are adopting the Code of Practice in their approach to workforce matters and contracting.
	They are also able to annex the information to their annual corporate plan, rather than producing a separate Best Value Performance Plan.

London Underground (Fire Regulations)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether fire regulations on the London underground are a devolved matter; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Legislation dealing with general fire safety on the London underground is not devolved. At present the legislation for which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has responsibility consists of the Fire Precautions Act 1971, the Fire Precautions (Sub-surface Railway Stations) Regulations 1989 (as amended) and the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 (as amended).

Pathfinder Areas

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the estimated public expenditure in each of the Pathfinder areas is in 200506.

Yvette Cooper: Information on total public expenditure in Pathfinder areas is not available. Total payments to the housing market renewal pathfinders to date for 200506 are shown as follows:
	
		
			 Pathfinder  million 
		
		
			 Birmingham Sandwell 7.42 
			 East Lancashire 23.62 
			 Hull and East Riding 1.01 
			 Manchester Salford 24.90 
			 Merseyside 30.75 
			 Newcastle Gateshead 13.25 
			 North Staffordshire 9.20 
			 Oldham Rochdale 13.06 
			 South Yorkshire 15.29 
			 Total 138.50

Rented Property (Hemel Hempstead)

Michael Penning: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average weekly rent was for a two-bedroom (a) registered social landlord and (b) local authority property in the constituency of Hemel Hempstead in the last year for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: Figures for Hemel Hempstead are not available centrally. The average weekly rent in Dacorum district council area two bedroom properties at the end of March 2005 are given in the table for those properties for which a property size is available:
	
		Average weekly rent for two bedroom social properties
		
			   
		
		
			 Registered Social Landlords 73.24 
			 Local Authority Landlords 62.14 
		
	
	Note:
	Registered Social Landlord data are based on data collected by the Housing Corporation via the annual Regulatory and Statistical Return. Local authority data based on un-audited returns from the Second Subsidy Claim form and are provisional for 2005.

Student Dwellings

Grant Shapps: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will move the time when a local authority area reports the number of student dwellings for council tax purposes from the autumn to the spring.

Phil Woolas: Information on a billing authority's taxbase for council tax purposes needs to be collected in the autumn so that up-to-date statistics can be used for the purposes of the formula grant settlement. Information on the number of dwellings occupied solely by students, and therefore exempt from council tax, is a part of a consolidated return from the billing authority and it would not be practical to receive information on student dwellings separately at a different time of year.

Sustainable Development

David Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what sustainable development requirements he has placed on his Department's (a) executive agencies, (b) advisory non-departmental bodies, (c) executive non-departmental bodies, (d) tribunals, (e) public corporations and (f) other bodies; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The UK Sustainable Development Strategy commits Departments and their executive agencies to producing Action Plans setting out the steps they are taking to implement the Strategy. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be publishing its Sustainable Development Action Plan in December 2005 and it is intended that this will cover steps being taken across the Office and its three executive agencies to promote Sustainable Development.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), its Executive Agencies and the Government Offices for the Regions are covered by the requirements of the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate (FSDGE) which requires Departments and their Executive Agencies to improve their performance in utility, land and resource use across their estates.
	The guidance on sustainable development in Cabinet Office's Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments applies directly to all of ODPM's executive and advisory non-departmental public bodies. Other sponsored bodies are aware of this guidance and would apply it as appropriate.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Antisocial Behaviour

Michael Jabez Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been imposed in Hastings and Rye in the past three years.

Hazel Blears: The available information is given in the table.
	
		Number of antisocial behaviour orders issued at all courts, as notified to the Home Office, where restrictions have been imposed within the local government authority areas of Hastings and Rother, by period
		
			  Hastings borough council Rother district council 
		
		
			 2002 2 3 
			 2003 5  
			 2004 9 5 
			 Total 16 8

Asylum Seekers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of new substantive asylum applications received in 200405 received a final decision, including appeal, within six months.

Andy Burnham: The latest published information on cases receiving a final decision within six months is published in the Asylum Statistics: 2nd Quarter 2005 United Kingdom. Copies are available from the Library of the House and on the Home Office research development and statistics directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html
	Information on the proportion of new substantive asylum applications in 200405, that were decided, including final appeal, within six months, is not yet available.

British Transport Police

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions were made by the British Transport police in each British Transport police area, for (a) selling alcohol or attempting to sell alcohol to a person who is drunk, (b) selling alcohol or attempting to sell alcohol to an individual under 18 years, (c) being drunk and disorderly, (d) being drunk and incapable and (e) violence against the person in each year for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: It is not possible to identify prosecutions made by the British Transport police on the Home Office court proceedings database as the prosecuting authority cannot be identified.

Citizenship Tests

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether people from abroad with only limited English need to pass the Life in the UK test to gain British citizenship.

Andy Burnham: All those applying for naturalisation as UK citizens will need to demonstrate that they have a sufficient knowledge of life in this country unless they are exempt, for instance on grounds of age. As first set out in the written statement dated 15 June 2005, Official Report, columns 1516WS, there are two ways of doing this. An applicant may qualify by passing the Life in the UK test, or by successfully completing an accredited ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) course which includes approved teaching materials on the theme of citizenship.

Crime

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of antisocial behaviour have been reported to police in Hemel Hempstead constituency in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: There is currently no data on the number of incidents of antisocial behaviour (ASB) due to the subjective nature of ASB itself. The latest data collected on ASB relates to the public perception of ASB in England and Wales and is measured by the British Crime Survey

Crime

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions for each category of crime there have been in (a) Essex, (b) the Metropolitan police area of London and (c) Hertfordshire in each of the last five years for which figures are available; what the (i) conviction rate and (ii) clear-up rate for each category was in that period; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Information on the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for each category of offence in Essex, the Metropolitan police force area and Hertfordshire, 1999 to 2003, is given in the table together with the conviction rates. Statistics for 2004 will be published in late November.
	The detections rate statistics are based on the number of offences recorded and detected by the police in England and Wales. These data are not comparable with those for convictions, which look at the actual number of defendants found guilty. Data on detection rates are provided in table 2.
	
		Detection rates by offence group and police force area -- Percentage
		
			 Police force area Total Violence against the person Sexual offences Robbery Burglary Theft and handling stolen goods Fraud and forgery Criminal damage Drug offences Other offences 
		
		
			 200001   
			 Essex 26 78 56 26 13 18 30 15 96 67 
			 Metropolitan Police 15 28 31 12 10 9 10 9 89 46 
			 Hertfordshire 24 74 65 34 14 18 35 12 96 66 
			
			 200102   
			 Essex 26 79 50 25 13 19 28 14 95 67 
			 Metropolitan Police 14 26 32 11 10 9 10 8 84 43 
			 Hertfordshire 24 80 68 31 11 20 38 12 99 80 
			
			 200203   
			 Essex 27 71 40 21 13 17 22 15 93 63 
			 Metropolitan Police 14 24 33 13 13 8 9 8 82 44 
			 Hertfordshire 23 66 53 31 15 18 23 12 97 68 
			
			 200304   
			 Essex 28 69 37 21 12 17 24 15 95 66 
			 Metropolitan Police 15 26 34 12 12 8 13 9 87 49 
			 Hertfordshire 25 64 54 34 17 17 21 14 93 67 
			
			 200405   
			 Essex 27 63 33 23 12 17 28 15 93 74 
			 Metropolitan Police 21 43 35 15 13 10 12 13 97 61 
			 Hertfordshire 29 68 41 36 21 19 21 15 95 76 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Offences detected in the current year may have been initially recorded in earlier years and for this reason percentages may exceed 100.
	2. Number of recorded crimes and detections will be affected by changes in reporting and recording. For more information see Chapter 3 in 'Crime in England and Wales 2002/03'.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for all offences by offence type, with conviction rates(17). Essex, Hertfordshire and Metropolitan police force areas, 19992003
		
			  1999 2000 2001 
			 Police force area Proceeded against Found guilty Conviction rate (percentage) Proceeded against Found guilty Conviction rate (percentage) Proceeded against Found guilty Conviction rate (percentage) 
		
		
			 Essex  
			 Violence against the person 1,454 622 43 1,361 569 42 1,547 613 40 
			 Sexual offences 228 81 36 151 81 54 195 66 34 
			 Burglary 828 533 64 837 436 52 717 403 56 
			 Robbery 132 89 67 153 78 51 198 80 40 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 3,669 2,815 77 3,473 2,572 74 3,476 2,677 77 
			 Fraud and forgery 591 411 70 637 386 61 627 403 64 
			 Criminal damage 530 323 61 483 274 57 1,195 798 67 
			 Drug offences 1,267 1,131 89 1,139 1,001 88 1,133 979 86 
			 Other indictable offences 1,799 854 47 1,687 790 47 1,811 725 40 
			 Indictable motoring offences 294 203 69 260 188 72 293 210 72 
			 Summary offences (excluding motoring) 19,485 16,198 83 20,858 16,682 80 15,595 12,330 79 
			 Summary motoring offences 24,212 20,691 85 23,985 20,062 84 26,345 22,125 84 
			 Total all offences 54,489 43,951 81 55,024 43,119 78 53,132 41,409 78 
		
	
	
		
			  2002 2003 
			 Police force area Proceeded against Found guilty Conviction rate (percentage) Proceeded against Found guilty Conviction rate (percentage) 
		
		
			 Essex   
			 Violence against the person 1,298 618 48 1,471 702 48 
			 Sexual offences 201 79 39 186 77 41 
			 Burglary 680 405 60 648 410 63 
			 Robbery 206 95 46 171 84 49 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 3,169 2,484 78 2,994 2,457 82 
			 Fraud and forgery 593 395 67 525 386 74 
			 Criminal damage 728 441 61 648 402 62 
			 Drug offences 1,095 981 90 1,038 896 86 
			 Other indictable offences 1,806 726 40 2,001 799 40 
			 Indictable motoring offences 278 192 69 246 183 74 
			 Summary offences (excluding motoring) 17,862 14,255 80 17,298 13,932 81 
			 Summary motoring offences 32,747 26,932 82 26,466 21,960 83 
			 Total all offences 60,663 47,603 78 53,692 42,288 79 
		
	
	
		
			  1999 2000 2001 
			 Police force area Proceeded against Found guilty Conviction rate (percentage) Proceeded against Found guilty Conviction rate (percentage) Proceeded against Found guilty Conviction rate (percentage) 
		
		
			 Metropolitan police   
			 Violence against the person 11,024 4,905 44 11,166 5,076 45 11,853 5,413 46 
			 Sexual offences 1,117 532 48 1,043 463 44 1,283 527 41 
			 Burglary 5,264 3,297 63 5,302 3,276 62 5,310 2,977 56 
			 Robbery 2,806 1,410 50 3,591 1,451 40 4,856 1,767 36 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 23,276 18,511 80 21,363 16,799 79 21,160 16,356 77 
			 Fraud and forgery 4,825 3,306 69 4,609 3,269 71 4,302 2,997 70 
			 Criminal damage 3,137 1,804 58 2,571 1,458 57 2,551 1,340 53 
			 Drug offences 11,280 9,999 89 10,387 8,868 85 11,465 9,181 80 
			 Other indictable offences 12,088 6,995 58 12,038 6,802 57 12,669 7,141 56 
			 Indictable motoring offences 1,162 779 67 1,085 741 68 1,187 767 65 
			 Summary offences (excluding motoring) 96,567 79,401 82 100,234 83,61 1 83 79,562 64,079 81 
			 Summary motoring offences 80,268 63,387 79 71,610 55,542 78 70,370 55,099 78 
			 Total all offences 252,814 194,326 77 244,999 187,356 76 226,568 167,644 74 
		
	
	
		
			  2002 2003 
			 Police force area Proceeded against Found guilty Conviction rate (percentage) Proceeded against Found guilty Conviction rate (percentage 
		
		
			 Metropolitan police
			 Violence against the person 12,808 6,394 50 11,992 5,871 49 
			 Sexual offences 1,461 603 41 1,548 567 37 
			 Burglary 5,715 3,339 58 5,343 3,207 60 
			 Robbery 4,872 1,936 40 4,048 1,835 45 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 22,517 17,773 79 20,239 15,845 78 
			 Fraud and forgery 4,816 3,420 71 5,038 3,601 71 
			 Criminal damage 2,437 1,378 57 2,459 1,357 55 
			 Drug offences 12,404 10,461 84 12,327 10,408 84 
			 Other indictable offences 14,518 8,235 57 13,983 7,865 56 
			 Indictable motoring offences 1,304 857 66 1,576 1,008 64 
			 Summary offences (excluding motoring) 98,044 81,098 83 93,106 76,548 82 
			 Summary motoring offences 74,836 59,442 79 78,790 62,518 79 
			 Total all offences 255,732 194,936 76 250,449 190,630 76 
		
	
	
		
			  1999 2000 2001 
			 Police force area Proceeded against Found guilty Conviction rate (percentage Proceeded against Found guilty Conviction rate (percentage) Proceeded against Found guilty Conviction rate (percentage 
		
		
			 Hertfordshire  
			 Violence against the person 903 393 44 973 467 48 1,005 456 45 
			 Sexual offences 114 49 43 103 63 61 87 55 63 
			 Burglary 373 254 68 426 255 60 398 226 57 
			 Robbery 74 63 85 136 57 42 124 89 72 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 1,743 1,315 75 2,015 1,482 74 1,966 1,482 75 
			 Fraud and forgery 376 263 70 445 348 78 343 250 73 
			 Criminal damage 69 40 58 56 37 66 29 41 141 
			 Drug offences 525 447 85 481 421 88 536 462 86 
			 Other indictable offences 871 440 51 905 447 49 960 494 51 
			 Indictable motoring offences 84 67 80 109 81 74 111 80 72 
			 Summary offences (excluding motoring) 9,382 7,324 78 10,640 8,161 77 9,955 7,687 77 
			 Summary motoring offences 12,854 10,203 79 12,218 9,239 76 11,866 8,961 76 
			 Total all offences 27,368 20,858 76 28,507 21,058 74 27,380 20,283 74 
		
	
	
		
			  2002 2003 
			 Police force area Proceeded against Found guilty Conviction rate (percentage Proceeded against Found guilty Conviction rate (percentage 
		
		
			 Hertfordshire   
			 Violence against the person 1,046 539 52 1,190 507 43 
			 Sexual offences 114 70 61 132 52 39 
			 Burglary 524 314 60 545 313 57 
			 Robbery 185 113 61 177 110 62 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 2,102 1,558 74 2,161 1,671 77 
			 Fraud and forgery 371 280 75 409 297 73 
			 Criminal damage 64 32 50 106 60 57 
			 Drug offences 582 481 83 630 545 87 
			 Other indictable offences 1,025 471 46 1,379 624 45 
			 Indictable motoring offences 149 95 64 198 128 65 
			 Summary offences (excluding motoring) 8,840 6,696 76 11,264 8,469 75 
			 Summary motoring offences 13,823 10,389 75 15,186 11,987 79 
			 Total all offences 28,825 21,038 73 33,377 24,763 74 
		
	
	(17) Conviction rate is based on the proportion of defendants proceeded against, who were found guilty
	Note:
	These data are on the principal offence basis.
	Source:
	RDSOffice For Criminal Justice Reform.

Deepcut Barracks

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Devon and Cornwall police Report into the Surrey police's investigation into the deaths of four recruits at the Deepcut Army Barracks between 1995 and 2002.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 10 November 2005
	Devon and Cornwall police have completed their review of Surrey police's investigation into the deaths of the soldiers at Deepcut Barracks. This was submitted to Surrey police on 31 August 2005. The report is a Surrey police document which is not normally subject to publication as they have a duty of care to other interested parties who may be named in the report with regards to sensitive or protected information. However, they have advised us that they intend to provide the families of the deceased soldiers with as much information as possible. They have written to each of the families informing them that they have received the report and explaining the next stage of the process.

Deportation

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals were deported from the United Kingdom between 1 January and 2 November, broken down by (a) nationality and (b) destination.

Andy Burnham: The Home Office produces quarterly bulletins on the number of asylum seekers removed from the UK, broken down by nationality. The latest available figures cover the second quarter of 2005. Figures for the third quarter of 2005 will be published on 22 November. Information on the destination of asylum removals for the first six months of 2005 is given in the following table.
	Statistics on the number of non-asylum cases removed from the UK are published annually. Figures for 2005 will be published in the summer of 2006. The published statistics are available on the Home Office's Research Development and Statistics website:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	
		Removals and voluntary departuresl of principal asylum applicants, by destination: January to June 2005(19)(5508340020)
		
			 Destination Persons removed 
		
		
			 Europe  
			 Albania 370 
			 Czech Republic 5 
			 Macedonia 15 
			 Moldova 25 
			 Poland 5 
			 Romania 205 
			 Russia 25 
			 Serbia and Montenegro 640 
			 Turkey 175 
			 Ukraine 50 
			 Other Former USSR 70 
			 Other Former Yugo 50 
			 Europe Other 1,060 
			 Europe Total 2,685 
			   
			 Americas  
			 Colombia 95 
			 Ecuador 60 
			 Jamaica 155 
			 Americas Other 75 
			 Americas Total 380 
			   
			 Middle East  
			 Iran 150 
			 Iraq 255 
			 Middle East Other 65 
			 Middle East Total 465 
			   
			 Africa  
			 Algeria 60 
			 Angola 60 
			 Burundi 10 
			 Cameroon 15 
			 Congo 35 
			 Dem. Rep. Congo 15 
			 Eritrea * 
			 Ethiopia 5 
			 Gambia 20 
			 Ghana 130 
			 Ivory Coast 5 
			 Kenya 20 
			 Liberia 15 
			 Nigeria 215 
			 Rwanda 5 
			 Sierra Leone 20 
			 Somalia 10 
			 Sudan 15 
			 Tanzania 20 
			 Uganda 105 
			 Zimbabwe 195 
			 Africa Other 190 
			 Africa Total 1,175 
			   
			 Asia  
			 Afghanistan 400 
			 Bangladesh 125 
			 China 90 
			 India 140 
			 Pakistan 250 
			 Sri Lanka 190 
			 Vietnam 5 
			 Asia Other 130 
			 Asia Total 1,335 
			   
			 Other, and nationality not known 50 
			   
			 Grand total 6,095 
		
	
	(18) Includes persons departing voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under the Assisted Voluntary Return Programme run by the International Organisation for Migration, and removals on safe third country grounds.
	(19) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5 with * = 1 or 2. Data may not sum due to rounding.
	(20) Provisional figures.

Passport Service

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the bidders that have been shortlisted for the UK Passport Service Abl tender; and when a decision on the successful bidder is expected.

Andy Burnham: For reasons of commercial confidentiality it is not possible, at this time, to disclose those bidders shortlisted under the Authentication by Interview estates procurement. It is anticipated that preferred bidder status will be announced late November 2005.

Police Helicopters

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used by the Metropolitan police in deciding whether to order the launch of a police helicopter; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Each launch of a police helicopter in the Metropolitan police area will fall within the criteria set out and is subject to due consideration being given to the environmental impact of each flight:
	public/police safety
	armed incident
	critical incident
	vehicle pursuit
	crime reduction
	counter terrorism
	photo/video surveillance
	public order
	security escorts
	security searches.

Road Safety

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many road traffic police officers there were in each year between 1990 and 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 7 November 2005
	Data are provided in the table. Figures are only available from 2003 onwards.
	
		Police officers whose main function is Traffic(21), 2003 to 2005
		
			 Total for England and Wales Full-time equivalent(22) 
		
		
			 As at 31 March:  
			 2003 6,901.89 
			 2004 6,702.40 
			 2005 7,103.93 
		
	
	(21) Staff with multiple responsibilities (designations) are recorded under their 'primary' role or function.
	(22) Full-time equivalent includes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave.

Speed Limits

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statistics his Department collects on the number of police officers deployed to stop motorists who exceed speed limits.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office collects statistics on the main function of police officers. Staff with multiple responsibilities are recorded under their primary role or function.
	There is a 'trafficoperational' function which includes all police officers who are predominantly employed on motor cycles or patrol vehicles for the policing of traffic and motorway related duties. This does not include officers employed in accident investigation, vehicle examination and radar duties. As at 31 March 2005 there were 6,428 (full-time equivalents) police officers recorded under the 'trafficoperational' function.

West Mercia Constabulary

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the performance of West Mercia constabulary.

Hazel Blears: The Police Performance Assessments published by the Home Office and Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary on 27 October show that in 200405 West Mercia police achieved a very positive assessment of its performance across the range of its core policing activity.
	West Mercia police received the following assessment. All delivery grades are either good or excellent and most direction grades are improvedthere are no deteriorated grades.
	In particular, the force showed strong performance for the excellent and improved gradings in investigating crimenotably for its overall detection rate and offences brought to justice performance; and for its performance in resource usenotably in the areas of leadership and performance management.
	
		
			 Performance Area Delivery Direction 
		
		
			 Reducing crime Good Improved 
			 Investigating crime Excellent Improved 
			 Promoting safety Good Stable 
			 Providing assistance Good Stable 
			 Citizen focus Good Improved 
			 Resource use Excellent Improved 
			 Local policing Good Improved

DEFENCE

Departmental Expenditure

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library copies of his Department's Chart of Accounts for financial years 199798 to 200506;
	(2)  if he will list his Department's top level budget holders and their related intermediate and working level management groupings for financial year 200506.

Adam Ingram: Yes. I will provide copies from financial year 200001 when the Chart of Accounts was first adopted for financial management purposes in the Ministry of Defence. This will also provide the budgetary structure down to basic level Budget. It will take some time for all the information to be collated. Once this has been done, I will place copies in the Library of the House.

Future Aircraft Carriers

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timetable is for the Department's aircraft carrier programme.

Adam Ingram: The Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF) project is in its assessment phase, the aim of which is to balance the key parameters of performance, cost and time. The main investment decision will be taken when we know with confidence the risks involved in building the carriers, when we have a proper understanding of the costs involved and the implications in terms of the wider interface with other projects. At that time, ship build time scales and consequent in-service dates (ISDs) will be set.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what estimate (a) he has made and (b) the Iraqi authorities have made of the number of civilian casualties during the events of 19 September 2005 in Basra;
	(2)  whether he has requested the return of the (a) car and (b) equipment seized at the time of the arrest of the two military intelligence officers on 19 September 2005 in Basra;
	(3)  whether the raid on the Jamiyat prison on 26 September 2005 was approved in advance by (a) Officials and (b) Ministers in his Department;
	(4)  what reports he has received of torture being conducted at the Jamiyat prison in Basra;
	(5)  whether either of the two military intelligence officers arrested in Basra on 19 September 2005 were (a) carrying non-UK passports and (b) not of UK nationality;
	(6)  whether compensation will be offered to Iraqi citizens affected by British military action in Basra on 19 September 2005;
	(7)  what reasons have been given by Iraqi police for their arrest of the two British officers in Basra on 19 September 2005;
	(8)  whether Basra's principal council has requested that the two military intelligence officers arrested on 19 September 2005 handed over to Iraqi authorities.

John Reid: holding answer 21 October 2005
	Commanders in the field have full authority to take action to protect life. On 19 September, a day of fast moving events, the Ministry of Defence was consulted throughout. The acting commander of British forces in MND (SE) was able to take the difficult decision to mount the operation to enter the police station in the knowledge that he had the full support of the chain of command. The two British soldiers arrested in Basra on 19 September by the Iraqi Police Service are both UK nationals and were not carrying the passports of any other nation.
	The car that the two British soldiers were travelling in was not seized. Although some of the personal equipment worn or carried by the British soldiers was removed by the Iraqi Police Service, most was recovered. All the equipment subsequently found in the police station was retrieved.
	Due to the difficulty in obtaining reliable information it is not our policy to comment on civilian casualties. In this case, although we are aware of media reports, we have not been provided with any evidence relating to the deaths of Iraqis.
	The Ministry of Defence has well-established procedures for handling claims for compensation in Multi-National Division (South East) and indeed any other theatre in which we operate. If there are any legitimate claims for negligence that arise out of the events of 19 September, they will be considered in the normal way.
	I am aware of serious allegations of prisoner abuse at the Jameat including two alleged deaths in custody. UK support to the Iraqi Police Service in Basra and elsewhere is designed among other things to enhance police governance, accountability and respect for human rights. We take this very seriously. We have been pressing the Iraqi authorities very hard in both Basra and Baghdad to investigate these allegations thoroughly and then to take appropriate action and we will continue to do so.
	The Iraqi Government have said that the two soldiers were arrested because the Iraqi Police Service initially believed them to be terrorists and they were not able to immediately confirm their status as British soldiers. Having confirmed their identity we were extremely concerned when they were not released in accordance with Iraqi law. We have subsequently agreed with the Iraqi Government that in future any such incident will be dealt with in accordance with the relevant articles of Iraqi law, which affirm that the UK retains sole jurisdiction over its armed forces personnel.
	We never received a formal request from either Basra's principal council or the Iraqi Government to hand the individuals over to the Iraqi authorities. Furthermore an Iraqi judicial inquiry concluded that under Iraqi law there were no grounds for such action, given the immunity of Multinational forces personnel from the Iraqi legal process.
	British forces were fully within their rights to act in the way they did and I fully support their actions.

Landing Ships Dock (Auxiliary) Programme

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has received further requests from Swan Hunter for additional funding to complete the two ships being built by Swan Hunter as part of the Landing Ships Dock (Auxiliary).

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 3 November 2005, Official Report, column 1264W.

RMP Historic Investigation Team

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  on whose authority it was decided to set up 6 Royal Military Police Historic Investigation Team; and which (a) Government Ministers and (b) Law Officers were involved in discussions leading to its creation, with specific reference to discussions between Defence Ministers and Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office;
	(2)  what the remit is of 6 Royal Military Police Historic Investigation Team; and what circumstances have led to its mission and co-operation with the Police Service of Northern Ireland;
	(3)  how many cases and operations 6 Royal Military Police Historic Investigation Team is expected to investigate; and how many soldiers and former soldiers are expected to be involved in those investigations;
	(4)  what the estimated annual budget is of the 6 Royal Military Police Historic Investigation Team; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The 6th Regiment, Royal Military Police (6 RMP) Historic Inquiry Team (HIT) have been established as the HQNI focal point for providing information to support the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) review of all 'troubles' related deaths. They are not undertaking any investigative responsibilities in relation to this review.
	The RMP maintain close liaison with all Home Office police forces and routinely assist both in civil police investigations and requests for information involving service personnel. The current PSNI review is no different from any other Home Office police investigation and requests for information are being met with full and open disclosure.
	The PSNI are expected to review some 2,000 cases, though each case-file may contain more than one incident of death. The RMP have approximately 930 military police case files, which contain information relevant to these deaths. In addition, 6 RMP maintain the Northern Ireland Operational Archive, which stores material such as patrol reports, log sheets and patrol data. The RMP HIT remit is to trawl this material in response to requests for information from the PSNI. The number of cases involving military personnel has not yet been quantified.
	The 6 RMP HIT was formed by means of a routine internal reorganisation of existing manpower in order to meet changing priorities within an existing area of military police support. The Commanding Officer of 6 RMP made the decision to form the 6 RMP HIT so that the support to the PSNI inquiries could be delivered in the most effective way possible, and this decision was endorsed by the Chief of Staff, Headquarters Northern Ireland.
	As the 6 RMP HIT has been created through an internal reorganisation of existing regimental resources, no additional cost has been incurred and an increase to the extant 6 RMP budget is not considered necessary at this stage.

Terrorism

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about the size of the British armed forces and their ability to meet the threats of terrorism in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the rest of the world.

John Reid: I have received no representations specifically linking the size of the armed forces and their role in the Government's comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy.
	The role of the armed forces in meeting the threat of terrorism was set out clearly in the New Chapter to the Strategic Defence Review (Cmnd 5566) and the two Defence White Papers 'Delivering security in a changing world' and 'Future capabilities' in 2003 and 2004 (Cmnd 6041 and Cmnd 6269).
	The armed forces continue to provide a number of specialist capabilities in support of the civil authorities in the United Kingdom. Although there is no military solution to terrorism, the Government have demonstrated that when necessary they are willing and able to deploy significant forces overseas as part of their counter-terrorism strategy.
	I have received a number of representations relating to the Government's decision to disband the three Home Service battalions of The Royal Irish Regiment when their role in support of the Police Service of Northern Ireland ends as a result of the process of security normalisation which began on 1 August 2005.

Thailand

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether an agreement is in place between the Thai and the British Governments, whereby arms and munitions are supplied by the British in return for chickens from Thailand; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 9 November 2005
	No such agreement exists. The Government are, however, supporting BAE Systems to work with the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand to assist with the modernisation of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. This was affirmed in a Joint Statement on 13 October by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The text of the Joint Statement can be found at http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page8306.asp

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

British Nationals (Drug Smuggling)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British nationals have been convicted and been given life sentences for drug smuggling in (a) Thailand, (b) Singapore, (c) Turkey, (d) Morocco, (e) Tunisia and (f) the Netherlands in the last five years.

Kim Howells: The following table provides figures for the number of British nationals we are aware of who have been convicted and given life sentences for drug smuggling in each of these countries in the last five years.
	
		
			 Country Number of British nationals 
		
		
			 Thailand 4 
			 Singapore 0 
			 Turkey 0 
			 Morocco 0 
			 Tunisia 0 
			 Netherlands 0

Burundi

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the new government in Burundi regarding the killing of British citizen Charlotte Wilson in December 2000; and if he will press the Burundian Government to take action to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Ian Pearson: We have raised the case of Charlotte Wilson on several occasions with the new Burundian Government. We continue to press the Burundian authorities for progress in bringing Charlotte's killers to justice, and to remind them of the importance we attach to a resolution of the case.
	Most recently, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development raised this case with President Nkurunziza in Bujumbura on 1 November. President Nkurunziza said that his Government was committed to investigating this and many similar cases. We will maintain pressure on the Burundian authorities to bring the perpetrators of this case and similar atrocities to justice.

EU Council of Ministers

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the British Presidency of the EU would support a proposal that the Council of Ministers should meet in public.

Douglas Alexander: The UK Presidency supports finding ways for the Council to improve Council transparency. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said before the European Parliament on 23 June
	Mr. Watson challenged me over Council transparency and, certainly in relation to legislating, there is a strong case for that. Let us consider that under our Presidency.
	We held an initial discussion with partners in October and we will continue to work on the issue of improving Council transparency during the UK Presidency.

Foreign Students

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many foreign students have been granted visas to study in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years, broken down by nationality.

Kim Howells: The number of student visas issued in each of the last five years, broken down by post:
	
		
			 Post 2000 200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Abidjan 183 487 392 527 141 
			 Abu Dhabi 853 838 1,091 1,336 1,033 
			 Abuja 484 788 1,380 1,469 2,837 
			 Accra 1,788 2,315 3,103 2,804 1,749 
			 Addis Ababa 239 240 190 215 159 
			 Algiers 0 892 344 282 229 
			 Almaty 1,420 2,835 2,347 1,715 2,324 
			 Amman 502 708 758 906 808 
			 Amsterdam 177 210 252 303 227 
			 Ankara 506 413 361 538 1,525 
			 Antananarivo 21 26 23 30 24 
			 Ascension Island 0 1 (23) (23) (23) 
			 Ashgabat 160 85 118 129 312 
			 Asmara (23) (23) (23) (23) 7 
			 Athens 63 54 41 43 79 
			 Bahrain 388 676 758 903 801 
			 Baku 226 245 306 385 424 
			 Bamako (23) 0 0 (23) (23) 
			 Bandar S B 60 22 43 132 440 
			 Bangkok 3,694 3,375 4,228 5,038 4,936 
			 Banjul 1,050 1,088 475 537 549 
			 Beijing (Peking) 8,109 12,178 17,435 14,469 9,963 
			 Beirut 273 258 309 348 387 
			 Belgrade 1,550 1,138 1,183 1,102 1,420 
			 Belmopan 1 1 0 1 (23) 
			 Berlin 0 1 1 1 2 
			 Berne 0 0 0 0 (24) 
			 Bogot 2,685 2,654 2,488 2,329 2,469 
			 Brasilia 0 0 1 1 0 
			 Bratislava 902 1,281 1,796 1,725 4 
			 Bridgetown 22 36 30 42 252 
			 Brussels 38 39 46 54 111 
			 Bucharest 1,173 1,195 1,000 517 780 
			 Budapest 67 103 96 133 87 
			 Buenos Aires 17 72 117 125 146 
			 Cairo 535 441 384 336 426 
			 Canberra 327 363 355 412 603 
			 Caracas 239 327 268 79 151 
			 Casablanca 581 409 458 315 243 
			 Chennai (Madras) 1,295 3,369 4,915 4,978 5,331 
			 Chicago 87 98 78 373 1,690 
			 Chisinau (23) (23) (23) (23) 140 
			 Chongqing (23) (23) (23) (23) 24 
			 Colombo 1,936 1,850 1,194 1,654 1,641 
			 Copenhagen 62 83 71 89 71 
			 Dakar 83 94 79 83 84 
			 Damascus 535 502 432 500 570 
			 Dar Es Salaam 845 779 876 805 782 
			 Dhaka 723 1,344 2,313 2,190 2,133 
			 Doha 307 310 432 513 574 
			 Dubai 443 591 836 1,159 1,171 
			 Dublin 110 113 178 205 236 
			 Dsseldorf 426 586 750 377 504 
			 Ekaterinburg 227 596 628 852 1,219 
			 Freetown 117 225 510 467 273 
			 Gaborone 48 67 79 83 327 
			 Geneva 274 317 326 357 231 
			 Georgetown 52 73 101 61 60 
			 Gibraltar 0 1 (23) (23) (23) 
			 Guangzhou 2,562 3,737 5,040 3,956 3,726 
			 Guatemala City 2,562 3,737 27 23 0 
			 Hamilton 27 8 (23) (23) (23) 
			 Hanoi 304 270 720 1,077 1,314 
			 Harare 173 408 178 656 751 
			 Havana 11 19 18 28 45 
			 Helsinki 49 37 27 41 43 
			 Hong Kong 229 234 175 1,916 6,497 
			 Honiara 6 3 2 3 3 
			 Islamabad 1,680 2,649 2,554 10,332 8,953 
			 Istanbul 6,702 5,185 5,107 3,208 2,709 
			 Jakarta 747 771 638 702 862 
			 Jedda 1,126 1,318 1,243 1,590 2,651 
			 Jerusalem 199 93 224 138 159 
			 Kampala 783 993 1,536 1,174 897 
			 Karachi 741 1,095 227 29 1,906 
			 Kathmandu 701 489 346 365 341 
			 Khartoum 150 151 367 384 488 
			 Kiev 4,218 3,325 2,715 1,895 2,098 
			 Kigali 7 6 3 0 0 
			 Kingston 198 292 442 339 211 
			 Kinshasa 25 30 55 64 104 
			 Kolkata (Calcutta) 295 414 532 660 641 
			 Kuala Lumpur 376 298 669 1,836 5,947 
			 Kuwait 460 578 807 964 943 
			 LaPaz 1 0 7 42 125 
			 Lagos 1,032 2,133 2,525 2,685 5,208 
			 Lahore (23) 485 (23) (23) (23) 
			 Lilongwe 26 38 90 171 303 
			 Lima 257 266 388 302 302 
			 Lisbon 83 70 60 73 77 
			 Los Angeles 154 139 168 461 3,121 
			 Luanda 159 238 266 293 272 
			 Lusaka 559 564 580 459 569 
			 Luxembourg 12 14 7 10 15 
			 Madrid 143 201 229 305 455 
			 Managua 1 0 2 (24) (23) 
			 Manila 154 183 263 252 275 
			 Maputo 35 49 59 48 57 
			 Maseru 3 5 0 6 (23) 
			 Mbabane 9 11 44 42 41 
			 Mexico City 924 11 30 157 1,142 
			 Minsk 237 291 421 564 474 
			 Montevideo 54 13 25 20 16 
			 Moscow 1,501 5,882 1,304 7,125 1,483 
			 Mumbai (Bombay) 1,538 2,231 3,463 5,268 5,510 
			 Muscat 1,181 1,171 1,166 1,170 1,767 
			 Nairobi 1,246 1,780 1,667 1,190 991 
			 Nassau 39 47 49 (24) (23) 
			 New Delhi 1,662 2,266 3,264 3,735 3,801 
			 New York 325 334 453 1,083 4,683 
			 Nicosia 335 248 321 695 383 
			 Nuku'alofa 5 2 1 0 2 
			 Oslo 47 36 33 56 78 
			 Ottawa 153 219 294 612 1,959 
			 Panama City 4 4 4 4 21 
			 Paris 705 578 594 584 696 
			 Phnom Penh (23) (23) (23) 17 29 
			 Port Louis 834 986 924 1,010 1,305 
			 Port Moresby 22 49 29 1 15 
			 Port of Spain 298 294 295 379 433 
			 Port Stanley 0 0 0 (23) (23) 
			 Prague 278 242 400 553 123 
			 Pretoria 250 598 154 234 469 
			 Pyongyang (23) (23) (23) 0 12 
			 Quito 178 249 343 387 398 
			 Rabat 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Rangoon 306 462 679 220 192 
			 Reykjavik 2 5 3 6 15 
			 Riga 232 92 133 157 71 
			 Rio de Janeiro 12 18 43 150 1,132 
			 Riyadh 984 944 1,617 1,805 6,749 
			 Rome 221 227 320 289 395 
			 San Jose 7 1 0 10 (23) 
			 San Salvador 0 11 14 0 (23) 
			 Sana'a 197 234 221 250 147 
			 Santiago 6 11 14 260 280 
			 Santo Domingo 35 23 14 15 24 
			 Sarajevo 58 134 36 164 129 
			 Seoul 32 34 107 3,026 7,339 
			 Shanghai 1,775 3,456 4,729 5,219 5,672 
			 Singapore 270 659 710 784 1,757 
			 Skopje 114 282 96 181 162 
			 Sofia 2,476 2,988 940 619 582 
			 St. Petersburg 777 653 825 923 1,032 
			 Stockholm 20 32 74 80 93 
			 Suva 18 13 8 20 16 
			 Taipei 8,567 7,746 9,464 6,845 9,116 
			 Tallinn 50 41 40 62 73 
			 Tangier 0 0 (23) (23) (23) 
			 Tashkent 453 1,220 988 1,026 434 
			 Tbilisi 354 468 881 740 528 
			 Tegucigalpa 4 6 6 0 (23) 
			 Tehran 685 954 900 977 1,151 
			 Tel Aviv 45 45 43 173 866 
			 Tirana 174 132 121 191 208 
			 Tokyo 146 155 161 2,693 8,961 
			 Tripoli 1,363 2,612 2,564 2,029 2,745 
			 Tunis 1,226 1,053 897 583 189 
			 Ulaanbaatar 135 188 481 232 120 
			 Valletta 2,298 62 34 64 50 
			 Victoria 95 63 22 3 62 
			 Vienna 137 100 111 104 115 
			 Vila 1 1 0 0 1 
			 Vilnius 100 162 99 138 52 
			 Warsaw 129 110 139 79 56 
			 Washington 88 87 (23) (23) (23) 
			 Wellington 950 74 62 78 102 
			 Windhoek 5 23 13 63 71 
			 Yaound 104 272 314 265 343 
			 Yerevan 15 46 85 33 144 
			 Zagreb 270 708 587 582 627 
			 Total 99,559 121,466 128,144 146,538 182,409 
		
	
	(23) Post not open.
	(24) Statistics unavailable.
	(25) Prior to 200102, Entry Clearance Statistics were published by Calendar year.
	Source:
	UK visas Global Statistics. These have been published online since 200102 and can be found at www.ukvisas.aogov.uk.

Maldives

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the high commissioner in the Maldive Islands has made to the Maldive authorities on the treatment of Mohamed Nasheed and the Maldivian Democratic Party.

Kim Howells: The British high commissioner in Colombo, accredited to the Maldives, has raised our concerns on the trial of Mohamed Nasheed and current political events on several recent occasions. He did so on 26 September with President Gayoom of the Maldives and on 31 October with the Foreign Minister, Ahmed Shaheed.
	The deputy high commissioner also raised these issues with Foreign Minister Ahmed Shaheed in August 2005, shortly after Mr. Nasheed's arrest, and on 27 October, following his first court appearance.
	The British high commission is active in co-ordinating EU action locally. It led an EU fact-finding mission to the Maldives in August that met Government Ministers, officials and detainees, including Mohamed Nasheed. An EU statement was issued on 2 September, emphasising the responsibility of the Maldivian authorities to uphold the right of political parties to meet freely and to carry out peaceful political activities. It noted the seriousness of the charges against detainees, called for due process, and made clear that the credibility of such trials would be scrutinised closely. We will continue to underline to the Government of the Maldives its democracy and human rights obligations, both bilaterally and with our EU partners.

Poland

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's policy is on the timetable for Poland's adoption of the euro.

Douglas Alexander: Each new member state will pursue a strategy for adoption of the Euro appropriate to its circumstances, and in line with its obligations under the Treaty establishing the European Community. The new Polish Prime Minister, Mr. Marcinkiewicz, has said that his Government will not seek to adopt the Euro during the current Parliament. Polish President-elect, Lech Kaczynski, has said that he favours holding a referendum before adoption of the Euro.

Republic of Congo

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the hostilities in the Republic of Congo following the visit of the former Prime Minister, Mr. Kolelas.

Ian Pearson: There have been several reports of clashes between Government forces and rebels known as Ninjas before and since the return to the Republic of Congo of Bernard Kolelas. The Bacongo district of the capital, Brazzaville, was most affected by the violence. Several people are reported to have died in these clashes including Government security forces, rebel fighters and civilians.
	On 20 October, the Congolese army said that the rebels had been forced to flee the Bacongo area. Brazzaville is now said to be calm, although we continue to monitor the situation.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Sudan on coordinated offensive operations undertaken by the Government of Sudan and the Janjaweed Arab militia in Darfur (a) on 18 September in Khartoum Djadeed, Sandego, Khasantongur, Tary, Martal and Djabain and (b) on 28 September, in Arusharo, Acho and Gozmena.

Ian Pearson: On 18 and 28 September respectively, Arab Militias attacked the towns and surrounding areas of Khartoum Djadet and Aro Sharrow. We also received unconfirmed reports that the Government of Sudan's airforce acted in co-ordination with the militias during these attacks. The African Union is investigating these incidents and we await their report. Offensive military overflights by the Government of Sudan would constitute a breach of its obligations under the Abuja Security Protocol and, under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1591, those responsible are liable to be targeted with a travel ban and assets freeze.
	We have made clear that the recent increase in violence is unacceptable, and that those responsible must be held to account. During the recent EU Ministerial Troika meeting in Sudan on 8 October, both my noble Friend Lord Triesman, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa, and the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union, Javier Solana, raised recent attacks with the Sudanese Government. The UK, as EU Presidency, has also issued three statements condemning the recent increase in violence and calling on all sides to rein in the belligerents, and to work for a peaceful solution to the conflict.

Tibet

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the human rights situation in Tibet.

Ian Pearson: The Government remain concerned about the human rights situation in Tibet. Issues of specific concern include interference by the Chinese/Tibetan authorities in the religious activities of the Tibetan people. The Government support some project work in Tibet and we monitor developments in the region closely.